Bangladesh Political Killings: Delhi Think Tank To Petition International Criminal Court Against Yunus
Troubles for Muhammad Yunus may escalate in the coming days as a Delhi-based think tank, The Rights & Risks Analysis Group (RRAG), prepares to petition the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the chief adviser of Bangladesh's interim government. The think tank claims to have built a case alleging a series of political assassinations targeting members of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's party, the now-banned Awami League.
The think tank asserts that 'at least" 123 Awami League members have been murdered under Dr Yunus's regime. This includes 41 individuals allegedly hacked to death in a manner reminiscent of Taliban-style killings, the RRAG claims.
The think tank has compiled a comprehensive report, reviewed by News18, which it intends to present as evidence at the ICC. The report states that the victims, besides their affiliation with the Awami League, also belonged to associated groups such as the Swechasebak League, Chhatra League, Juba League, Matsojibi League, and Krishak League. They were killed between August 5, 2024, and April 30, 2025, according to the report. The same report alleges 21 custodial deaths of Awami League activists during this period, attributed to torture.
'These murders of the Awami League members are just the tip of the iceberg, as not all the murders of the Awami League members were reported in the local media, and further, the RRAG was not able to monitor all local media. It is, however, clear that even children, women, the mentally unstable, and the seriously injured were not spared," said Suhas Chakma, director of RRAG.
The slogan 'Joy Bangla" (Bengali for 'Victory to Bengal" or 'Hail Bengal") was the national slogan of Bangladesh. However, after Hasina's exit, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh ruled in December 2024 that it would no longer be the national slogan. On December 17 last year, a class five student, Mohd Masud Rian, was allegedly murdered by pro-Yunus supporters for a five-month-old Facebook post that read 'Joy Bangla", claims the RRAG. This shocking alleged incident took place in Nachol, Chapaiganj, in Bangladesh.
The report meticulously details specific incidents, such as the alleged murder of Awami League worker Babar Ali on August 13, 2024. He was allegedly killed by having his throat slit after being abducted from the front of his house in Bogura district. Another incident highlighted is the alleged murder of Tofazzal, the Kathaltoli Union Chhatra League leader in Patharghata Upazila, a mentally disturbed individual, on September 19, 2024. He was allegedly brutally killed on the Dhaka University campus by a student mob despite his condition.
The RRAG insists that among the 1,400 people potentially killed between July 15 and August 5 were Awami League members whose relatives were unable to testify before the inquiry conducted by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights due to fear of reprisal.
At the ICC, the think tank will invoke Article 7 and Article 28 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in its case against Md Yunus.
In essence, the RRAG will file a formal complaint with the International Criminal Court, drawing parallels between the situation in Bangladesh under Yunus's interim government and the crimes against humanity committed in the context of post-election violence in Kenya in 2007 and 2008, which was investigated by the ICC.
First Published:
June 06, 2025, 19:37 IST
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