DHAKA: A Bangladeshi war crimes tribunal set up by ousted premier Sheikh Hasina has launched three “mass murder” probes into its founder over the unrest that forced her to flee the country, its investigator said Monday.
More than 450 people were killed — many due to police fire — during a month of student-led protests against Hasina’s 15-year autocratic rule, before she quit as prime minister and fled to India on August 5.
“We are collecting preliminary evidence at this stage,” said Ataur Rahman, deputy director of the tribunal’s investigation cell, adding the cases were related to “mass murder.”
“After this, we will go to the site of the crimes,” Rahman told AFP.
All three cases were brought by private individuals, and several of Hasina’s former top aides have also been named in the cases, he said.
The cases relate to violence in suburbs or nearby districts of the capital Dhaka, in Mirpur, Munshiganj and Savar.
In addition, local police units across the country have filed at least 15 cases against Hasina, according to local media reports.
Some relate to cases that predate the recent unrest, and charges include murder and “crimes against humanity.”
Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) was set up by Hasina in 2010 to probe atrocities during the country’s liberation war against Pakistan.
Under Hasina, the ICT sentenced more than 100 people to death, including several of her political opponents.
The court was often criticized by rights groups for not following international conventions.
Hasina’s government was accused of widespread human rights abuses, including the extrajudicial killing of thousands of her political opponents.
The United Nations said Friday there were strong indications that the Bangladeshi security forces used unnecessary force in tackling the student-led uprising.
“There are strong indications, warranting further independent investigation, that the security forces used unnecessary and disproportionate force in their response to the situation,” the UN human rights office said in a preliminary report.
“Alleged violations included extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detention, enforced disappearances, torture and ill-treatment,” it added.
Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus has said his administration would “provide whatever support” the UN investigators need.
Bangladesh war crimes tribunal probes cases against Hasina
https://arab.news/6tszj
Bangladesh war crimes tribunal probes cases against Hasina
- All three cases were brought by private individuals, with several of Hasina’s former top aides named in them
- The cases relate to violence in suburbs or nearby districts of capital Dhaka, in Mirpur, Munshiganj and Savar
Indonesia’s first woman president awarded honorary doctorate by Princess Nourah University
- Megawati was recognized for her leadership and contributions to social, legal affairs
- She has received 10 other honorary degrees from Indonesian and foreign institutions
JAKARTA: Megawati Sukarnoputri, who served as Indonesia’s fifth president and was the country’s only female head of state to date, has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh, becoming the first foreign national to receive the title.
Megawati, the eldest daughter of Indonesia’s first President Sukarno and chairwoman of the country’s largest political party, the PDIP, served as president from 2001 to 2004.
The 79-year-old was awarded an honorary doctorate in organizational and legal affairs in Riyadh on Monday during a ceremony overseen by Princess Nourah University’s acting president, Dr. Fawzia bint Sulaiman Al-Amro.
“This recognition was given in appreciation of her efforts during her presidency, her significant contributions to social, organizational, and legal fields, and her role in strengthening institutional leadership in Indonesia,” the university said in a statement.
This is Megawati’s 11th honorary doctorate. She has received similar degrees from Indonesian and foreign universities, including the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 2003 and the Soka University of Japan in 2020.
She has also been awarded the title of honorary professor by several institutions, including by the Seoul Institute of the Arts in 2022.
“We gather at the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, a university that stands as a symbol of women’s progress in education, knowledge and public service … To see so many intelligent women, I feel very proud,” Megawati said in her acceptance speech.
“Women’s empowerment is not a threat to any values, culture or tradition. It is actually a condition for nations that believe in their future … A great nation is one that is able to harness all of its human potential. A strong nation is one that does not allow half of its social power to be left on the sidelines of history.”
Megawati is the longest-serving political leader in Indonesia. Indonesia’s first direct presidential elections took place during her presidency, consolidating the country’s transition to democracy after the downfall of its longtime dictator Suharto in 1998.
