The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has directed that public notices be published in newspapers calling for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to appear before the court in connection with cases of crimes against humanity.
On Monday, a three-member bench of the tribunal, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder, issued the order.
The accused are required to present themselves within one week. To facilitate this, the tribunal has instructed the publication of separate notices in both a Bengali and an English daily newspaper.
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam stated that if the accused fail to appear within the stipulated time, the tribunal will proceed with the trial in absentia, treating them as fugitives.
The orders come amid ongoing proceedings by the International Crimes Tribunal, which was established to prosecute individuals accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and other serious offenses committed during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
Sheikh Hasina, the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh and leader of the Awami League, is known for her pivotal role in the country`s political landscape, while Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has served as the Home Minister in the current government.
The tribunal`s directive to summon them marks a significant development in the judicial process concerning alleged human rights violations and war crimes.
The publication of notices in newspapers aims to publicly call on the accused to respond to the charges and ensure transparency in the proceedings.
