Crimes of Sheikh Hasina: officers get 1 month deadline to finish probe

Dhaka: In the case of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her close aides, who face charges of crime against humanity over the killing of hundreds of people this summer, a special tribunal there told investigators on Monday that they have one month to complete their work, the Associated Press reported.

The three-membered International Crimes Tribunal, headed by Golam Mortuza Majumdar, set Dec 17 for the probing officers as the deadline to finish their work. On Monday, the tribunal heard updates from police about what the nation’s security agencies have done to arrest Hasina and her close aides.

The decision came after prosecutors sought more time for the investigation.

Hasina has been living in exile in India since Aug 5, when she fled the country amid the student-led protests. The Dhaka-based International Crimes Tribunal on Oct. 17 issued arrest warrants for Hasina and 45 others, including former Cabinet ministers, advisors and military and civil officials. The country is now being run by an interim government headed by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus.

At least 13 people, including a former law minister and a businessman who was Hasina's private-sector advisor, appeared before the tribunal on Monday, said B M Sultan Mahmud, a prosecutor at the tribunal.

One former Cabinet minister was not brought to the tribunal as he was in custody for police interrogation in a separate case. Another six people will appear on Wednesday, tribunal officials said. At least 20 suspects have been arrested in the case.

The tribunal will also seek updates from police on their progress in arresting the other suspects, including Hasina.

On Sunday, Yunus said in an address to the nation that his administration would seek Hasina's extradition from India.