Post by : Rameen Ariff

Bangladesh's International Crime Tribunal (ICT) has issued an arrest warrant against Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, over allegations of crimes against humanity during student-led anti-government protests in July 2024. The tribunal accused Joy of shutting down the internet as a tool to suppress protests, a move described by officials as a form of repression.

The order was delivered by ICT-1, led by Justice Golam Mortaza, with Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Justice Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury as other members. The case also includes allegations against former State Minister for Information Technology, Junaid Ahmed Palak. Tajul Islam, Chief Prosecutor to the ICT, confirmed that an arrest warrant has been issued against Joy for his alleged role in crimes against humanity during the protests.

This latest move follows a string of rulings against Sheikh Hasina and her family. Earlier this week, a Dhaka court sentenced Sheikh Hasina to five years in prison on corruption charges, while her younger sister Sheikh Rehana received a seven-year sentence and Rehana's daughter, Tulip Siddique, a British Member of Parliament, was sentenced to two years. The case relates to allegations that Sheikh Hasina and her family illegally allocated government plots in Dhaka's Purbachal area.

The ICT has also previously sentenced Sheikh Hasina to death over the killing of students during last year’s protests. Both Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy have rejected the tribunal’s trial process, calling it a kangaroo court. Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024, amid the student uprising, while Joy is currently residing in the United States.

The interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, has initiated these proceedings against Sheikh Hasina and her family members, aiming to hold them accountable for actions during the protests. The arrest warrant against Joy marks a significant escalation in the legal actions taken by Bangladesh's ICT, which continues to scrutinize the former Prime Minister and her family’s conduct during periods of civil unrest.

Bangladesh’s ICT actions, including the latest warrant against Sajeeb Wazed Joy, have drawn international attention due to their high-profile nature and the serious charges of crimes against humanity related to government suppression of protests and civil rights violations.

#Asia News