The International Crimes Tribunal on Monday ordered the publication of notices in two national newspapers asking deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan to appear before the tribunal within seven days in connection with a case over the July鈥揂ugust 2024 mass uprising.
A three-member tribunal bench鈥攈eaded by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder and comprising Justice Md Shofiul Alam Mahmood and retired district judge Mohammad Mohitul Haque Anam Chawdhury 鈥攁lso set June 24 for the next hearing.
The order came after chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam submitted a police report stating that law enforcers had raided the residences of Hasina and Asaduzzaman multiple times but failed to locate them.
Citing newspaper and social media reports, the prosecution claimed that both accused were believed to be hiding in India to avoid arrest.
The police informed the court that they would be produced if arrested later.
On June 1, the tribunal had issued arrest warrants against Hasina and Asaduzzaman after taking into cognizance formal charges pressed by the prosecution.
The third accused, former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, is already in custody.
Hasina, Asaduzzaman, and Mamun face allegations of crimes against humanity for their roles in the crackdown on unarmed demonstrators during the 2024 mass uprising.
The tribunal has accepted five charges against them, including abetment, instigation, facilitation, conspiracy, and superior responsibility for the violence.
Fresh arrest warrants were issued on Monday, and the court directed the inspector general of police to take all necessary steps to arrest the absconding accused.
The tribunal also fixed June 16 for the appearance of the three accused and the production of Mamun.
During a two-hour hearing, chief prosecutor Tajul Islam presented excerpts from the 135-page charge sheet against the trio.
