Dhaka: At least nine more complaints have been filed against former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her associates. Now the number of cases registered against Hasina has increased to 31. The cases registered against Hasina include 26 cases of murder, four cases of crimes against humanity and genocide and one case of kidnapping. According to the news of ‘The Daily Star’ newspaper, Supreme Court lawyer Gazi MH Tamim has filed a complaint with the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh on behalf of Mufti Harun Izhar Chowdhury, Joint General Secretary (Education and Law) of Hefazat-e-Islam. The complaint accuses Hasina and 23 others of committing crimes against humanity and genocide during the Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chhatar in Motijheel on May 5, 2013.
Investigation started
The newspaper quoted the investigating agency’s Deputy Director (Administration) Ataur Rahman as saying, “We have registered a complaint and the investigation has started from today.” This is the fourth complaint lodged with the International Crimes Tribunal, in which the former Prime Minister has been accused. Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post of Prime Minister on August 5 after massive protests against her government over the controversial reservation system in government jobs and left the country for India. Three of the four cases are related to the recent violence centered on the reservation movement. Apart from this, eight more cases were registered against the Awami League president across the country on Tuesday, in which she was accused in connection with the murders committed during the recent protests.
They were made co-accused
The newspaper said that Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul and sister Sheikh Rehana have been made co-accused in the murder case for the first time. The key accused in the Hefazat-e-Islam case include Awami League general secretary and former road transport and bridge minister Obaid-ul Quader, former minister Rashid Khan Menon, former Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, former prime minister adviser Salman F Rahman, former prime minister security adviser Tariq Ahmed Siddiqui, former inspector general of police AKM Shahid-ul Haque, ABNews24.com editor Subhas Singh Roy and former army chief Aziz Ahmed. Apart from these, some unknown ministers, state ministers and MPs, unknown persons from law enforcement agencies and then policy makers of some electronic and print media have also been made accused in the case.