Dhaka, Aug 21 (Representative) At least nine new cases were filed against ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday on various allegations, including murder, across the country, media reports said. One of the cases was related to the May 5, 2013 crackdown on a Hefajat-e-Islam protest in the Shapla Chattar of Motijheel area of this capital city. The opposition BNP as also hardline Islamic groups have consistently accused the Hasina-led erstwhile Awami League government of committing genocide during the crackdown, a charge denied by her regime.. The charge was submitted with the International Crimes Tribunal’s investigating office today, accusing the former Prime Minister and 23 others of committing crimes against humanity and genocide during the crackdown. Furthermore, eight new complaints were filed against Hasina during the day, accusing her involvement in the killings committed during the recent student-led quota reform movement, which eventually toppled her government on August 5. In all, Hasina now faces 31 counts of formal allegations, including 26 for murder, four for crimes against humanity and genocide, and one for kidnapping. For the first time today, Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul and sister Sheikh Rehana were named co-accused in killing charges. According to Daily Star, complaint was submitted by Supreme Court lawyer Gazi MH Tamim on behalf of Mufti Harun Ijahar Chowdhury, Hefajat’s joint secretary general for education and law. “We have registered the complaint, and thus the investigation has started from today [Tuesday],” Ataur Rahman, deputy director (admin) of the investigation agency, told The Daily Star today. “Once we complete preliminary investigation and visit to the place of occurrence and the tribunal is reconstituted, we, through the prosecution, will seek arrest warrants against all the accused,” he said. The other accused include former Army officers including an erstwhile Army chief, senior leaders of Hasina’s Awami League, journalists, media owners and some intellectuals opposed to the hardline Islamists.
Among those named in the accusations are Obaidul Quader, AL general secretary and former road transport and bridges minister, Workers Party of Bangladesh President Rashed Khan Menon, Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, former mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation; former Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud and Salman F Rahman, former advisor to prime minister. Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former security advisor to the prime minister; Shahriar Kabir, president of Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee; Prof Muntassir Mamoon, member of Nirmul Committee; Tureen Afroz, former prosecutor of ICT and member of Nirmul Committee; Imran H Sarker, convener of Gonojagoron Mancha; Mozammel Haque Babu, chairman of Ekattor TV; Ahmed Zobayer, former managing director and CEO of Somoy TV; Subhash Singha Roy, editor of ABnews24.com; Naimul Islam Khan, former press secretary of prime minister and Aziz Ahmed former army chief have also been named in the compaint. Aside from them, certain anonymous ministers, state ministers, and MPs, nameless persons from law enforcement agencies, and the former policymakers of some electronic and print media outlets were charged. According to the complaint, the accused perpetrated crimes against humanity and genocide by killing Hefajat activists in Dhaka and nearby areas, as well as in districts such as Chattogram, Narayanganj, and Cumilla during May 5 and 6, 2013. On that day, Hefajat men engaged in deadly battles with law enforcement and ruling Awami League men, turning the capital city into a war. They set fire to hundreds of shops, vehicles, and police outposts and looted stores, including those selling Islamic publications. In March 2010, the Hasina-led government established the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) to prosecute people who committed crimes in 1971. A second ICT was established afterward. Following the two tribunals’ judgements, five Jamaat members and a BNP leader were executed. Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul and sister Sheikh Rehana, and 17 others were sued in a case was filed over the killing of fruit seller Farid Sheikh at Hanif Flyover Toll Plaza in the capital’s Jatrabari on August 5. Victim’s father Sultan Miah filed the case with the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Shakil Ahmed.