The interim government has amended the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973 for the third time in a year, introducing a new provision that disqualifies anyone formally charged with crimes against humanity from contesting elections or holding public office.
According to the latest amendment — issued Monday night as the International Crimes Tribunal (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 — the newly inserted Section 20C states that once formal charges are filed against a person under the ICT Act, that individual will immediately lose eligibility to contest parliamentary or local government elections and to remain in any such position if already elected.
The provision also disqualifies the accused from being appointed to or continuing in any government service or public office. However, the disqualification will not apply if the person is later acquitted or discharged by the tribunal.
Officials said the main intent of the amendment is to ensure that individuals accused of war crimes cannot hold any state responsibility while their trials are pending.
The amendment effectively ends any possibility of deposed Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina participating in elections. Hasina, who was ousted in a mass uprising on August 5, 2024, fled to India the same day after her government collapsed.
Since then, several of her ministers, MPs, and senior Awami League leaders have been arrested, while many others have gone into hiding or fled abroad. Most of them are now accused in murder and war crimes cases.
The interim government has initiated moves to try Sheikh Hasina and her close associates at the same International Crimes Tribunal that her own administration established in 2010 to prosecute perpetrators of 1971 war crimes.
