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An investigation has begun into accusations of murder, genocide, and crimes against humanity against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and nine others over the violence surrounding the quota reform movement from Jul 15 to Aug 5, reports bdnews24.com.
Lawyer Gazi Monowar Hossain Tamim, who petitioned the International Crimes Tribunal for the investigation, confirmed it on Thursday.
“The complaint has been registered as a case by the investigative body of the International Criminal Tribunal. The investigation agency’s Deputy Director (Administration) Md Ataur Rahman has been appointed the investigation officer of the allegations. He started work last night. He will do the paperwork and go to the scenes of the incidents.”
Tamim added that the progress of the investigation will be reported to the complainant within seven days.
On Wednesday, a lawyer filed a petition calling for proceedings against Hasina, which, if accepted, would result in her being tried at the tribunal she helped establish for crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War.
In addition to the Awami League president, nine other people, including Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, former state minister for posts and telecommunications Zunaid Ahmed Palak, and former state minister of information Ali Arafat have been accused in the case.
Others accused are former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, former additional inspector general of police and former chief of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch Harunor Rashid, former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, and former Rapid Action Battalion chief Md Harun Or Rashid.
The Awami League as an organisation and its affiliates the Jubo League and Chhatra League have also been named in connection with the allegations.
Supreme Court Advocate Tamim filed the complaint on behalf of Md Bulbul Kabir, the father of Arif Ahmed Siam of Bagerhat, who was killed during the protest movement against the quota system for government jobs, on Wednesday.
Advocate Tamim also said that the father of a 20-year-old student named Md Mehedi had also submitted a similar complaint to the tribunal. Mehedi is the son of Md Sanaullah from Munshiganj’s Gazaria Upazila Munshiganj, who was killed on Chattogram Road, Tamim said.