A case has been filed against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina at the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing allegations of crimes against humanity and genocide.
Three lawyers, including British-Bangladeshi Barrister Asraful Arafin, recently lodged the case with the ICC.
Speaking at a press briefing at the London Bangla Press Club, Barrister Arafin detailed the claims against Hasina's government.
According to him, an unprecedented student movement, known as the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, erupted in Bangladesh in July 2024.
The Sheikh Hasina-led government allegedly responded with severe violence, deploying a range of security forces, including the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and Ansar Battalion.
The Awami League, then the ruling party, and its affiliated organisations were also reportedly involved in suppressing peaceful protests that called for reforms to the government job quota system.
The government forces and Awami League affiliates allegedly attacked the peaceful demonstrators indiscriminately, using live ammunition, rubber bullets, sound grenades, and other lethal weapons.
Over 1,400 individuals were reportedly killed, with thousands injured, many of whom suffered permanent disabilities in what has been described as one of the worst atrocities in recent history.
During the Awami League's tenure, numerous incidents of genocide, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances reportedly took place across the country.
Barrister Arafin argued that these actions exemplify violations of international humanitarian law and constitute crimes against humanity.
bd-pratidin/GR
