DHAKA, Feb 16, 2025 (BSS) - Gonotantrik Bangladesh Network, a platform of Bangladeshi expatriates, today urged the interim government to conduct the trial of Awami League with utmost priority for committing crimes against humanity under the International Crimes Tribunal.
 
"Crimes against humanity were carried out in a planned way under the leadership of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina and all of her allies must be tried under ICT for committing such crimes," they told a virtual press conference today.
 
Citing the recently published report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), they said various forces, including law enforcers led by AL, were involved in serious human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, mass arrests, torture, and sexual violence across the country.

Professor of Grand Valley State University in Michigan, US, Dr. Azfar Hussain; engineer Tonmoy Karmakar; anthropologist and writer Nasreen Khondkar; and Syed Waliullah Literary Award 2024 winning fiction writer Bornoali Saha, among others, addressed the press conference.

In the statement, the expatriate's platform said all the perpetrators, including Hasina herself, must face trial for human rights violations, torture, disappearances, murders, corruption, and money laundering that occurred during Hasina's tenure.

They urged the interim government to document the names of martyrs and the injured apart from providing medical and rehabilitation support, investigating crimes committed during the uprising and 16 years of fascist rule, and restoring law and order situation.

Citing OHCHR's report, they mentioned at least 1,400 people were killed, most of them by law enforcers, while thousands more were severely injured. Severe gender-based violence, with numerous women subjected to physical and sexual abuse, with some even facing threats of rape from pro-government forces, also occurred, they said.

The Gonotantrik Bangladesh Network termed the UN report a critical step toward holding those responsible, including Sheikh Hasina, accountable and urged the interim government to ensure that proper investigations are carried out and justice is served for the crimes.

They also urged diplomatic efforts to bring fugitives, including Sheikh Hasina, back to Bangladesh for trial.