The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has instructed Police Headquarters to initiate red notices through Interpol against 10 prominent individuals, including former road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, on charges of genocide, murder, and crimes against humanity related to the 2013 student-led uprising.
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam shared the update with the press on Thursday (10 April) confirming the tribunal's direction.
The other individuals named in the tribunal’s order are: former liberation war affairs minister AKM Mozammel Haque, foreign minister Hasan Mahmud, jute and textiles minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak, mayor of Dhaka South Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, education minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, former state ministers Nasrul Hamid Bipu and Mohammad Ali Arafat, and ex-prime minister's security affairs adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique.
Tajul Islam revealed that the prosecution had submitted multiple petitions requesting the tribunal to instruct the Inspector General of Police to take necessary steps for the arrest of these individuals through Interpol.
The tribunal has granted these petitions, and the corresponding orders have been sent to the police headquarters.
In relation to the mass killings that occurred during the July-August uprising, arrest warrants have been issued for 141 individuals across 22 cases. Of these, 54 have been apprehended, while 87 remain fugitives.
Tajul Islam further outlined that a total of 339 complaints have been filed with the tribunal, with arrest warrants issued in 22 'miscellaneous' cases, involving 141 people. Ongoing investigations are being carried out in 39 other cases.
The chief prosecutor also emphasised the gravity of the uprising, stating, "More than 1,500 people were martyred, and approximately 25,000 students and citizens were injured. We possess undeniable evidence of each incident, and we are confident in our ability to present this before the tribunal."
The developments mark a significant step in the ongoing pursuit of justice for the victims of the brutal crackdown during the uprising.
