DHAKA: Ten former ministers and two advisers from the ousted govt of Sheikh Hasina are among 20 people ordered to appear before International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) of Bangladesh on Nov 18. They face charges of alleged crimes against humanity and genocide committed during the July-Aug uprising that led to the collapse of Hasina's 15-year govt.
The political situation in Bangladesh remained tense as Hasina's Awami League prepared to confront the caretaker govt's legal and political actions, with plans to mobilise street protests against what the party called mass witch-hunting.
The ICT - established in 2009 to prosecute those responsible for atrocities committed during the 1971 Liberation War - issued summons following two petitions filed by the prosecution. The tribunal named 20 people in its order, including several prominent politicians from Hasina's Awami League and allied parties.
In a statement on Facebook page Sunday, Awami League declared its plans to take to the streets "together with the people". "The people are the source of power for Awami League," it said. Confirming the party's call, organising secretary Shafiul Alam Chowdhury told Voice of America: "We are planning to demonstrate and start our political activities."
On Oct 17, the ICT had issued arrest warrants for Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and 45 other ex-cabinet members and senior politicians. These summonses come amid a broader crackdown on the party's brass, with the tribunal also announcing Sunday that arrest warrants were issued against 17 more people, including former Dhaka Metropolitan police commissioner Habibur Rahman. They are required to appear before the ICT on Nov 20 in connection with another case involving similar charges.
The political situation in Bangladesh remained tense as Hasina's Awami League prepared to confront the caretaker govt's legal and political actions, with plans to mobilise street protests against what the party called mass witch-hunting.
The ICT - established in 2009 to prosecute those responsible for atrocities committed during the 1971 Liberation War - issued summons following two petitions filed by the prosecution. The tribunal named 20 people in its order, including several prominent politicians from Hasina's Awami League and allied parties.
In a statement on Facebook page Sunday, Awami League declared its plans to take to the streets "together with the people". "The people are the source of power for Awami League," it said. Confirming the party's call, organising secretary Shafiul Alam Chowdhury told Voice of America: "We are planning to demonstrate and start our political activities."
On Oct 17, the ICT had issued arrest warrants for Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and 45 other ex-cabinet members and senior politicians. These summonses come amid a broader crackdown on the party's brass, with the tribunal also announcing Sunday that arrest warrants were issued against 17 more people, including former Dhaka Metropolitan police commissioner Habibur Rahman. They are required to appear before the ICT on Nov 20 in connection with another case involving similar charges.
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