International Crimes Tribunal Arrests Former Mayor of Dhaka for Crimes Against Humanity

Gavel & Judicial Bench. Image by Daniel Bone from Pixabay

The International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh issues arrest orders for the former mayor of North Dhaka, Atiquil Islam, along with five other government officials and members of the Awami League for crimes against humanity committed during uprisings in July and August of 2024.

Justice is being sought for government perpetrators of atrocities during the July Revolution in Bangladesh. On February 17th, 2025, the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh issued arrest orders for former North Dhaka mayor Atiquil Islam, Education Affairs Secretary for Uttara East Unit, Md Shahinur Miah, President of Uttara West Unit, Monowarul Islam Chowdhury Robin, Organising Secretary for Gazipur, Abdullah Al Mamun, President of Uttara Sector 6, Md Bashir Uddin, and Leader of the Jubo League, Delwar Hossain Rubel. All six individuals are already in custody for various charges, spanning 16 different criminal cases, concerning the July and August uprisings. The accused are alleged to have obstructed medical treatment, aided armed groups such as the Chhatra League and Jubo League, and committed crimes against humanity under section 3(2)(a) of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act. Prosecutors for the case include Md Mizanul Islam, Gazi MH Tamim, and BMM Sultan Mahmud. The Tribunal has set March 9th for the case’s investigation report. The Tribunal is actively pursuing cases against government officials, including 45 government ministers and at least three cases against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The July and August 2024 uprisings began in response to civil service job quota changes. Student groups, scholars, and activists, including Students Against Discrimination, led protests after the Bangladesh Supreme Court reinstated the 1972 hiring quota for independence fighters’ descendants on June 5th, 2024. The rule had previously been repealed in 2018 after findings revealed that 56 percent of government jobs had been allocated to candidates of quotas. To suppress anti-quota protests and retain power, the former government, supported by the Awami League, Chhatra League, and Jubo League, deployed paramilitary forces to attack, arrest, detail, and silence student demonstrators on university campuses.

Sources and Further Readings:

Siddik, A. B. (2024, October 10). Bangladesh’s July Revolution: Analyzing the 2024 movement for free speech and democracy. SSRN Working Paper. https://ssrn.com/abstract=5043479 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5043479.

The Indian Express. (2025, January 6). Bangladesh: Second arrest warrant issued against Sheikh Hasina. https://indianexpress.com/article/world/bangladesh-sheikh-hasina-second-arrest-warrant-9762989/ (Accessed February 28, 2025).

Dhaka Tribune. (2025, February 17). Former mayor Atiqul Islam, 5 others sent to jail. https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/court/373953/former-mayor-atiqul-islam-5-others-sent-to-jail (Accessed February 23, 2025).

Samakal. (2025, February 17). ICT shows Atiqul, others arrested in crimes against humanity case. https://en.samakal.com/bangladesh/170837745/ict-shows-atiqul–others-arrested-in-crimes-against-humanity-case (Accessed February 21, 2025).

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). (2025). Reporting of the OHCHR Fact-Finding Team on Human Rights Violations in Bangladesh. United Nations. https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/countries/bangladesh/ohchr-fftb-hr-violations-bd.pdf (Accessed February 25, 2025).

BBC News. (2024, October 17). Sheikh Hasina: Bangladesh issues arrest warrant for ex-leader. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98y6g2nx79o (Accessed February 27, 2025).