The Investigation Agency of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Thursday started probe into the case related to genocide and crimes against humanity lodged against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and others, after recording the allegations as a case.
Meanwhile, two more murder cases were filed on Thursday against immediate past Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and several others.
One of the two cases filed on Thursday was over the death of a 12-year-old student during the quota reform movement in Mohammadpur on July 19 while another case was filed on charges of killing a CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver in city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area on August 5.
With these two new cases, a murder case and an abduction case were filed against Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday while she has been charged with genocide and crimes against humanity under the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).
Sheikh Hasina fled the country after she was ousted from power on August 5 following a movement.
Investigation begins in genocide case against Hasina, others
The Investigation Agency of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Thursday started probe into the case related to genocide and crimes against humanity lodged against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and others, after recording the allegations as a case.
M. Ataur Rahman, Deputy Director (Administration) of the ICT Investigation Agency said experts have opined that the charges can be put on trial under the Sections 3(2) and 4(1)/4(2) of the International Crimes Tribunal Act 1973.
"The accusation of genocide and crimes against humanity has been recorded as a case. Also, an investigation officer has been appointed in this case and the agency has started reviewing by collecting the newspapers of the time of the incident," Gazi MH Tamim, the lawyer who filed the petition on Wednesday, told the newsmen on Thursday morning.
Earlier on Wednesday, a complaint was filed to the Coordinator of the ICT's investigation agency on behalf of Md Bulbul Kabir, father of Arif Ahmed Siam, a student who succumbed to his injuries two days after being shot by police during the anti-discrimination student movement in Savar on August 5.
An application was also submitted to take actions after investigation against the accused under Section 8 of the ICT Tribunal Act, 1973 by registering the complaint.
In the petition, it has been said that those who were killed or injured during July 15 to August 5 across Bangladesh, and later died on different dates will be included into it.
Fallen ex-prime minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, former Road, Transport and Bridges minister and AL general secretary Obaidul Quader, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former state minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, former state minister for information Mohammad Ali Arafat, several ministers of the ousted government, state ministers and parliament members, former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, former additional inspector general of police and Dhaka Metropolitan Detective chief Harun-ar Rashid, former Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Habibur Rahman and some other police officers and members, leaders and workers of Awami League, Chhatra League and Jubo League and AL's other affiliated organizations with some RAB officers and members were accused of genocide and crimes against humanity in the complaint.
In addition to the plaintiff and other witnesses, reports published in various media from last July 16 to August 6 were submitted as necessary documents.
Further proceedings will be conducted after the probe report is submitted to the Chief Prosecutor of the tribunal.
After the fall of Sheikh Hasina led government, two murder cases and an abduction case were also filed against Sheikh Hasina and several others, including different former ministers and former top officials of the Police and RAB.
Case over student's death during quota protests
The murder case was filed on Thursday, August 15, against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 15 other individuals, including top political figures and law enforcement officials, following the death of a 12-year-old student during the quota reform protests in Mohammadpur on July 19.
The case, lodged by Abdullah Abu Sayeed Bhuiyan, a resident of Tejgaon, accuses Hasina and others of involvement in the police firing that resulted in the death of Jobayed Hossain Imon.
The other accused are Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, former ministers -- Asaduzzaman Khan, Anisul Huq, Tajul Islam, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Hasan Mahmud and Mohammad A Arafat , former private industry affairs adviser to former prime minister Salman F Rahman and former lawmaker Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin, former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, Rab's former DG Harun Or Rashid, former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, former Additional IGP Kh Mahid Uddin, former DB (DMP) chief Harun Or Rashid and former DMP joint commissioner Biplob Kumar Sarker.
The court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury has ordered the Mohammadpur Police Station to register the complaint as a First Information Report (FIR).
This is the fifth case and third murder case against Hasina since her resignation and departure to India on August 5 amid mass unrest.
On that day, another Dhaka court directed police to submit the investigation report by September 15 in the case filed against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and six others concerning the death of grocery shop owner Abu Saeed. Saeed was killed in police firing in the capital's Mohammadpur area during the quota protests on July 19.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Zaki Al Farabi set the deadline after the case was presented to his court for further proceedings.
The murder case was filed on August 13 by SM Amir Hamza Shatil, a resident of Mohammadpur, with the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury. This marks the first case lodged against Hasina since her resignation and departure to India amid an uprising on August 5.
CNG driver Sahabuddin murder: 11 including Hasina sued
Besides, another case was filed against 11 individuals including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on charges of killing CNG driver Sahabuddin in city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area on August 5.
The other accused are: former road, transport and bridges minister and AL general secretary Obaidul Quader, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former law minister Anisul Huq, ousted prime minister's adviser Salman F Rahman, former foreign minister Hasan Mahmud, former state minister for information and broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat, inspector general of police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, former DB chief Harun ar rashid, former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman and former DMP joint commissioner Biplob Kumar Sarker.
Victim's father Abul Kalam filed an application to file a murder case with the Court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Farah Diba Sonda against Sheikh Hasina and 10 others on Thursday.
After scrutinizing the documents submitted before the court, the judge asked the officer-in-charge of Sher-e Bangla Nagar Police Station to register the complaint as a First Information Report (FIR).
According to the case, the victim was shot dead around 7.15pm on August 5 by some unidentified members of the police as he went out to buy food for his family.
This is the fifth murder case lodged against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina Since she resigned and fled the country for India.
