International Crimes Tribunal Orders Trial in Absentia if Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal Fail to Appear

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has announced that if Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal do not appear in person before the tribunal, the trial will proceed in their absence.

On Monday (June 16), a three-member bench led by the ICT Chairman Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder issued this directive. Earlier, the law enforcement authorities informed the tribunal that they were unable to locate the accused at their provided addresses.

Considering this, the tribunal ordered the publication of a public notice in newspapers to inform the accused and give them an opportunity to surrender voluntarily.

The tribunal stated that if, even after the notice, the accused fail to appear, the trial will continue in absentia according to existing laws.

Experts say this is an unprecedented event in the country’s history, where a sitting Prime Minister and Home Minister are facing trial related to war crimes charges.

No official response has yet been received from government authorities regarding this matter.

File Photo