Two complaints were filed with the Chief Prosecutor’s Office of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) today, seeking investigations into the alleged roles of former presidents Mohammed Shahabuddin and Md Abdul Hamid in crimes against humanity and other alleged human rights violations.
The first complaint was submitted by Al Nur Mohammad Ayash, central member secretary of the Rastrosonglap Forum, seeking an investigation into Shahabuddin’s alleged role in crimes committed during the July 2024 uprising.
In the complaint, Ayash also alleged that Shahabuddin, as the then president, had a role in the killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and other crimes committed against students and protesters during the July Uprising.
He urged the ICT to investigate whether the former president bore any legal responsibility in connection with those incidents, as well as allegations relating to the 2024 national election and human rights violations.
The complaint requested the chief prosecutor's office to collect relevant evidence, conduct an investigation, and take legal action if warranted.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Azad Party (BAP) filed a separate complaint with the ICT Chief Prosecutor’s Office this afternoon, seeking an investigation into the alleged roles of Shahabuddin and Abdul Hamid in crimes against humanity allegedly committed during their respective tenures.
After submitting the complaint, BAP President Brig Gen (retd) Hasinur Rahman told journalists that the two individuals were heads of state during various incidents, including enforced disappearances, the BDR Pilkhana killings, the Shapla Chattar crackdown, extrajudicial killings, Ayanghar incidents, and atrocities committed during the July Uprising.
Hasinur alleged that "as presidents, they [Shahabuddin and Hamid] supported the then government, provided it with constitutional protection and, as supreme commanders of the armed forces, did not protest against alleged injustices."
Confirming the matter to The Daily Star, ICT Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam said his office had received two complaints -- one from the Bangladesh Azad Party and the other from the Rastrosonglap Forum.
"We have received two complaints and are about to send them to the Investigation Agency," he added.
Note: This report has been updated with latest information at 7:30pm. Earlier, the report mentioned two complaints filed seeking investigations into Shahabuddin's role.
