The interim government has taken steps to investigate alleged human rights abuses committed by the former administration,133 including:
- Inviting UN OHCHR to investigate human rights violations in connection to the student protests. UN OHCHR published its fact-finding report on 12 February 2025.134
- Forming an inquiry commission to investigate enforced disappearance committed by state authorities under the former government (1 January 2010–5 August 2024).135 By 31 October 2024, the commission had received more than 1 678 complaints.136 More information is available in 3.1. Law enforcement under the previous government.
- Forming a commission to investigate the army’s crackdown on thousands of soldiers involved in a mutiny in 2009. This operation left 74 dead, including 57 army officials, and the court-martial for hundreds of soldiers, with some being punished by death.137
The interim government has moreover brought criminal cases before the domestic war crimes tribunal, International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh (ICT-BD),138 and has amended the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act of 1973, which the court’s jurisdiction is based on.139 The ICT-BD was established in 2009 to prosecute international crimes committed during the 1971 war of independence.140 It has previously been criticised for violating fair trial standards.141 The amendments of the ICT Act have inter alia brought the definitions of ‘crimes against humanity’, ‘genocide’ and ‘command responsibility’ in line with international law. They also allow foreign counsel and international observers attending its trials,142 and require the tribunal to ensure the safety, security and well-being of witnesses. The death penalty was, however, retained.143 The interim government has also reconstituted prosecutors and judges at the tribunal,144 and appointed Muhammad Tajul Islam as chief prosecutor.145 Islam served as defence lawyer for Jamaat-e-Islami during previous trials at the tribunal, which has caused concerns about his objectivity.146 There were also some reported concerns of the judges’ political affiliations.147
The ICT-BD Prosecutor’s Office has reportedly received 278 complaints, and filed 18 criminal cases accusing 199 people in total for crimes committed under the former government.148 Most of the accused are presumed to have fled the country, but 39 have been detained, including the former minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs,149 the former director general of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre,150 and the former head of the National Security Intelligence Agency.151 The ICT-BD has issued arrest warrants for 46 former ministers and senior Awami league officials, including Hasina and members of her family, senior Awami League leaders and members, and former ministers and advisers,152 as well as 17 law enforcement officials.153 The defendants are accused of alleged ‘crimes against humanity’154 for their involvement in enforced disappearances under the former government155 and also ‘genocide’ during the protests in July–August 2024.156 Before the amendments of the ICT Act on 24 November 2024, the tribunal’s definitions of ‘crimes against humanity’ and ‘genocide’ differed from international law, e.g. ‘genocide’ could also be applied to acts with the intent to destroy political groups.157 The ICT-BD has moreover requested India to extradite Hasina.158
Trials against former officials involved in the crackdown on protesters, are ongoing,159 including former ministers, bureaucrats, a judge,160 and senior security officials.161 A former RAB commander, accused of enforced disappearance, rape and torture, was also brought before the tribunal.162 The chief prosecutor communicated to media that multiple cases of key figures of the former government would be concluded by December 2025.163 According to UN OHCHR, ICT-BD prosecutors faced ‘pressure to move complex cases forward quickly to respond to public demands for justice, while lacking the capacity and resources to investigate, gather evidence, protect witnesses and conduct fair prosecutions through to judgment.’164
The police have received mass criminal complaints after the fall of the former government.165 Most cases have been filed as murder cases relating to the student protests. According to police data, 1 474 cases were filed in the period 6 August–25 September 2024, naming 92 486 defendants. Out of these, 1 174 cases were filed against 390 former ministers, members of parliament, and other Awami League officials.166 According to UN OHCHR, reporting in February 2024, 1 181 investigations had been initiated with 98 137 accused, including 25 033 naming political party leaders.167 Bangladeshi authorities have not published any numbers on arrests in relation to criminal complaints connected to the student protests, but hundreds have reportedly been arrested without any prior investigations of their cases. The Police Headquarters issued instructions in September 2024 for the police to ‘withdraw’ names of accused persons if preliminary investigations indicated that they were not involved.168
Hundreds of people connected to the former government have been arrested in criminal cases,169 including at least 74 top Awami League leaders.170 There were reports of security forces arbitrarily arresting Awami League affiliates,171 including journalists.172 Some misused the situation to file baseless cases173 against political opponents,174 and against perceived supporters of the former government.175 As a result, some have been arrested without a relevant connection to the crime.176 Some cases have listed hundreds of defendants, including ‘unnamed’ defendants.177 Since the police may arrest people without a warrant for serious offences,178 the practice of unnamed defendants opens up for them to arrest ‘almost anyone’ and repeatedly re-arrest them, which is ‘a common abusive practice’, as reported by Human Rights Watch.179 In some cases the plaintiffs were unaware of who they named as defendants, and only ‘signed the papers’ on recommendations of the police or local politicians.180 In a case recorded by Human Rights Watch, a woman signed a prewritten report with 50 accused, whom she did not know, including ministers, lawmakers, Awami League student activists, a teacher and two doctors, and 200–300 unnamed persons.181 In November 2024, a legal expert told International Crisis Group about a general fear of being arrested at ‘any minute’.182
Senior officials have been brought before courts for alleged murder amid the protests.183 There were, however, concerns of the accountability of police staff,184 given the lack of an independent mechanism investigating criminal complaints against security personnel,185 and as investigators may have been involved in the protest crackdowns, or may refrain from duly investigating colleagues.186 Local human rights organisation Odhikar reported on a case in which investigators had removed their former superior’s name from the list of accused.187
For a timeline of the protests in July–August 2024, and information on violence of actors of the former government, see Annex 1: Timeline of the protests in July–August 2024.
- 133
TIB, ‘New Bangladesh’, Tracking the First 100 Days after the Fall of the Authoritarian Regime, 18 November 2024, url, p. 14
- 134
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url
- 135
Daily Star (The), Enforced disappearance: Govt sets up inquiry commission, 28 August 2024, url
- 136
Business Standard (The), Disbanding RAB: Can a 'death squad' be transformed by changing its uniform?, 21 February 2025, url
- 137
Al Jazeera, Bangladesh to investigate 2009 paramilitary mutiny massacre, 26 December 2024, url
- 138
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 252
- 139
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 253
- 140
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 252
- 141
HRW, Bangladesh: Arrest Warrant for Sheikh Hasina, 22 October 2024, url
- 142
Prothom Alo, New ordinance brings ICT closer to int'l standards, more changes required, 7 December 2024, url; HRW, Letter to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Regarding Reforming the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 21 October 2024, url
- 143
Prothom Alo, New ordinance brings ICT closer to int'l standards, more changes required, 7 December 2024, url
- 144
AP, Bangladesh court issues arrest warrant for ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over deaths of protesters, 17 October 2024, url
- 145
AP, Bangladesh court issues arrest warrant for ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over deaths of protesters, 17 October 2024, url
- 146
Bergman, D., The Second Life of Bangladesh’s International Crimes, Justice Info, 20 February 2025, url
- 147
Prothom Alo, Why the Bangladesh govt needs to appoint international judges to the ICT, 19 October 2024, url
- 148
Dhaka Tribune, Ex-NSI director Monirul on 3-day remand, 10 October 2024, url; Bergman, D., The Second Life of Bangladesh’s International Crimes, Justice Info, 20 February 2025, url
- 149
Dhaka Tribune, Salman F Rahman, Anisul Huq arrested in Dhaka, 13 August 2024, url; Bergman, D., The Second Life of Bangladesh’s International Crimes, Justice Info, 20 February 2025, url
- 150
Daily Star (The), Sacked army officer Ziaul arrested, 17 August 2024, url; Bergman, D., The Second Life of Bangladesh’s International Crimes, Justice Info, 20 February 2025, url
- 151
Dhaka Tribune, Ex-NSI director Monirul on 3-day remand, 10 October 2024, url; Bergman, D., The Second Life of Bangladesh’s International Crimes, Justice Info, 20 February 2025, url
- 152
Business Standard (The), Names of all 46 on arrest warrant not disclosed for investigation’s sake: ICT chief prosecutor, 17 October 2024, url; Daily Star (The), Crimes against humanity, genocide: Arrest warrants for Hasina, 45 others, 18 October 2024, url
- 153
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 253
- 154
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 253
- 155
Bergman, D., The Second Life of Bangladesh’s International Crimes, Justice Info, 20 February 2025, url
- 156
Reuters, UN reports grave rights violations in Bangladesh protest response, 12 February 2025, url; NDTV, Bangladesh Tribunal Begins 'Genocide' Probe Against Sheikh Hasina, 9 Others, 15 August 2024, url
- 157
Hosain, M. M., The International Crimes Tribunals of Bangladesh: Past, Present and Future, Policy Brief Series No. 160, TOAEP, 2024, url, pp. 2–3
- 158
HRW, Bangladesh: Arrest Warrant for Sheikh Hasina, 22 October 2024, url
- 159
Al Jazeera, Bangladesh ex-ministers face ‘massacre’ charges, Hasina probe deadline set, 18 November 2024, url; Dhaka Tribune, ICT Chief Prosecutor: Verdicts will halt Awami League leaders' outbursts, 24 February 2025, url
- 160
Daily Star (The), 16 high-profile individuals produced before ICT, 18 February 2025, url
- 161
Business Standard (The), Proof found of ex-ASP Alep raping enforced disappearance victim’s wife during Ramadan: ICT prosecutor, 20 February 2025, url
- 162
Business Standard (The), Disbanding RAB: Can a 'death squad' be transformed by changing its uniform?, 21 February 2025, url
- 163
Dhaka Tribune, ICT Chief Prosecutor: Verdicts will halt Awami League leaders' outbursts, 24 February 2025, url
- 164
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 254
- 165
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 257
- 166
Daily Star (The), Fall of Hasina regime: Over 92,000 accused, 1,474 cases, 51 days, 10 October 2024, url
- 167
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 257
- 168
Bergman, D., The Second Life of Bangladesh’s International Crimes, Justice Info, 20 February 2025, url
- 169
International Crisis Group, A New Era in Bangladesh? The First Hundred Days of Reform, 14 November 2024, url
- 170
TIB, ‘New Bangladesh’, Tracking the First 100 Days after the Fall of the Authoritarian Regime, 18 November 2024, url, p. 7; Daily Star (The), The indiscriminate arrests and murder charges, 11 October 2024, url
- 171
HRW, After the Monsoon Revolution, 27 January 2025, url; Daily Star (The), Over 12,700 arrested in eight days, 27 April 2025, url
- 172
HRW, After the Monsoon Revolution, 27 January 2025, url; RSF, Bangladesh: RSF condemns the outrageous charges of crimes against humanity brought against at least 25 journalists, 30 August 2024, url
- 173
TIB, ‘New Bangladesh’, Tracking the First 100 Days after the Fall of the Authoritarian Regime, 18 November 2024, url, p. 7; Daily Star (The), The indiscriminate arrests and murder charges, 11 October 2024, url
- 174
TIB, ‘New Bangladesh’, Tracking the First 100 Days after the Fall of the Authoritarian Regime, 18 November 2024, url, p. 7; Prothom Alo, Indiscriminate accusations make cases questionable, 3 September 2024, url; Daily Star (The), The indiscriminate arrests and murder charges, 11 October 2024, url
- 175
Bergman, D., Justice vs Justice, Justice Info, 22 April 2025, url
- 176
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 257; HRW, After the Monsoon Revolution, 27 January 2025, url
- 177
International Crisis Group, A New Era in Bangladesh? The First Hundred Days of Reform, 14 November 2024, url; HRW, After the Monsoon Revolution, 27 January 2025, url
- 178
Bangladesh, The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, Part I, Chapter I, 22 March 1898, url, para. 4 (f)
- 179
HRW, After the Monsoon Revolution, 27 January 2025, url
- 180
HRW, After the Monsoon Revolution, 27 January 2025, url; Daily Star (The), A curious tale of two cases, 7 October 2024, url
- 181
HRW, After the Monsoon Revolution, 27 January 2025, url
- 182
International Crisis Group, A New Era in Bangladesh? The First Hundred Days of Reform, 14 November 2024, url
- 183
Daily Star (The), A day in court: Of handcuffs and helmets, 27 February 2025, url
- 184
Bergman, D., The Second Life of Bangladesh’s International Crimes, Justice Info, 20 February 2025, url
- 185
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 258
- 186
UN OHCHR, Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh, 12 February 2025, url, para. 258; Odhikar, Quarterly Human Rights Report, January–March 2025, 14 May 2025, url, para. 36
- 187
Odhikar, Quarterly Human Rights Report, January–March 2025, 14 May 2025, url, para. 36