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Human Rights Watch (HRW) has expressed concern over the way cases are being handled at Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), warning that shortcomings in the investigation and trial processes could undermine justice and the rule of law.
In a statement issued on Tuesday (July 28), the London-based international human rights organization said Bangladesh’s ICT was failing to ensure fair trials in accordance with international legal standards.
According to HRW, this could result in victims being denied justice, weaken the rule of law, lead to the unjust imprisonment of political opponents, and risk repeating human rights abuses of the past.
HRW said prosecutors submitted charges on July 27 against 41 people accused of crimes against humanity and genocide. The tribunal is currently hearing cases involving serious human rights violations allegedly committed during the rule of the Awami League government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The accused include politicians, members of the security forces and journalists.
The Awami League government was ousted following the 2024 mass movement after more than 15 years of increasingly authoritarian rule.
Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said those responsible for abuses committed during Sheikh Hasina’s rule must be held accountable. However, she noted that fair trial standards consistent with international norms were not being ensured in many cases.
“Bangladesh’s criminal justice system urgently needs reform. The new government should ensure that weak investigations and baseless charges cannot be used as a means of political retaliation,” she said.
The tribunal is hearing cases related to the crackdown by security forces during the student-led protests in July and August 2024. More than 800 people were killed and thousands were seriously injured during the crackdown, which ultimately led to the fall of the Awami League government.
The tribunal is also hearing cases involving allegations of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and other human rights violations committed during Sheikh Hasina’s rule.
HRW said it has monitored proceedings in more than a dozen cases currently before the tribunal, which was established to prosecute serious crimes under international law. Based on its observations, the organization said it had identified serious reasons for concern about the fairness and conduct of the proceedings.