A special tribunal in Bangladesh has given investigators one month to complete their probe into former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her close aides, who face charges of crimes against humanity related to a mass uprising this summer that resulted in hundreds of deaths. The International Crimes Tribunal, led by Judge Golam Mortuza Majumdar, set a deadline of December 17 for the investigation to be concluded. This decision follows a request by prosecutors for additional time to gather evidence.
Hasina, who fled the country on August 5 amid student-led protests, has been living in exile in India. On October 17, the tribunal issued arrest warrants for Hasina and 45 others, including former Cabinet ministers, military officials, and advisors. Bangladesh is now governed by an interim administration led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus.
On Monday, 13 individuals, including a former law minister and Hasina’s private-sector advisor, appeared before the tribunal. Six more suspects will present themselves on Wednesday. Authorities have arrested at least 20 individuals in connection with the case. The tribunal is also seeking updates on efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects, including Hasina. The chief prosecutor has asked Interpol to assist in Hasina’s arrest, and Yunus has announced plans to seek her extradition from India. The violence during the uprising, initially sparked by protests over government jobs, escalated into an anti-government movement, ultimately ending Hasina’s 15-year rule.
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