By Manisha Sahu, America News World
October 9, 2025
In a dramatic development, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has issued arrest warrants against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and nearly three dozen others, in connection with alleged crimes against humanity arising from “enforced disappearance” cases during her tenure. The tribunal also directed that the accused be produced before the court on October 22.
Charges and Allegations
The charges stem from two separate cases filed by the prosecution, which accuse Hasina and co-accused of supervising secret detention, torture, and disappearance of political opponents under her Awami League government.
In the first case, the tribunal alleges misconduct at a Joint Interrogation Cell operated by the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), where a number of opposition figures were reportedly held. In the second, charges relate to a clandestine cell run by the Rapid Action Battalion’s (RAB) Task Force Interrogation unit.
In each instance, the prosecution has framed five counts of crimes against humanity against the accused. Among the accused are Hasina, her former security and defence adviser Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, and other high-profile civilian and security officials.
The ICT bench, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, formally took cognizance of the charges and authorized issuance of arrest warrants. With the warrants now in hand, authorities are legally bound to arrest or secure production of the accused. The tribunal has scheduled the next hearing for October 22.
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Status of Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina, 78, is currently outside Bangladesh, residing in India after her government was toppled amid mass student protests in August 2024. She has refused to return to Bangladesh to face charges, and the trial will proceed in absentia.
Her exile followed a dramatic withdrawal from power when public unrest escalated into a nationwide movement demanding her departure.
It is not her first legal blow: in July 2025, the ICT sentenced her in absentia to six months in prison for contempt of court over a leaked audio recording in which she allegedly claimed a “license to kill” because of being charged in multiple cases. That case is separate from the ongoing war-crimes style charges.
Broader Implications and Reactions
Observers view the issuance of these warrants as a signal that Bangladesh’s interim government is intent on holding the previous regime accountable for alleged abuses of state power.
Human rights groups have documented a long history of enforced disappearances in Bangladesh under Hasina’s rule. The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances—established by the interim government in August 2024—has collected thousands of complaints and documented cases of detainees later resurfacing or remaining missing.
Reportedly, more than 250 enforced disappearance cases have been verified in preliminary investigations, with the total number of complaints nearing 1,700. Some media and international outlets suggest the number of disappearances may exceed 3,000 over the last decade.
Proponents of justice argue the tribunal’s actions represent overdue accountability for violations that bypassed the regular criminal justice system. Critics, including Hasina’s supporters, characterize the proceedings as politically motivated, designed to neutralize her influence and dismantle the Awami League’s leadership structure. (Note: public statements from Hasina’s party following the recent warrants have not been widely reported at time of writing.)
Internationally, Bangladesh’s approach has raised concerns about due process, fair trial standards, and judicial independence. Some analysts caution that politicization of courts could undermine legitimacy. Others contend that unless the accused—especially Hasina—are given the chance to mount an effective defence, the process risks being perceived as victor’s justice.
What Comes Next
With the warrants issued, the next challenge lies in execution. India’s cooperation—or refusal—to hand over Hasina will be critical. Bangladesh may seek extradition or rely on international mechanisms, though complex diplomatic negotiation would be needed.
Domestically, securing arrests of high-ranking military or intelligence figures will test the authority of the interim government and its institutions. It remains unclear whether security forces or judiciary elements loyal to the former regime may resist compliance.
On October 22, the tribunal expects to formally produce the accused before it—or record their absence—and proceed with the next stage of the trial process. If the accused do not appear, the court may move forward with evidence and argument in absentia.
For Bangladesh’s many families of the disappeared, the tribunal’s actions may offer a glimmer of hope that long-stalled investigations will see progress—but much depends on transparency, procedural fairness, and the political will to carry the process forward.
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