Former Bangladesh Presidents Hamid and Shahabuddin Face Legal Complaints at International Crimes Tribunal

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Formal complaints have been filed with the International Crimes Tribunal against former presidents Mohammed Shahabuddin and Abdul Hamid, accusing them of complicity in systemic human rights abuses and state-sanctioned violence during their respective tenures. The petitions, submitted separately by the Bangladesh Azadi Party and the Rastroshonglap Forum, seek a comprehensive investigation into the two leaders for their alleged roles in extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and the suppression of democratic dissent.

The Bangladesh Azadi Party named both former presidents in its filing, arguing that neither leader took action against the pervasive violence that characterized the tenure of the ousted Awami League government. Speaking to reporters after the filing, party convener retired Lt. Col. Md. Hasinur Rahman asserted that the former heads of state remained silent as citizens were killed and forcibly disappeared, effectively granting their tacit consent to state atrocities.

Organizers from the Azadi Party further alleged that the two former presidents provided security and political cover for the regime during a series of landmark tragedies, including the 2009 BDR mutiny, the 2013 Shapla Chattar operation, and the operation of the secret detention facility known as “Aynaghor.” According to the complainants, by remaining in office and endorsing the administration’s policies, Hamid and Shahabuddin became beneficiaries of a fascist structure and must now be held accountable for the crimes committed under their watch.

Separately, the Rastroshonglap Forum lodged a complaint exclusively targeting Mohammed Shahabuddin. The organization’s central member secretary, Al Nur Mohammad Ayas, alleged that he was abducted and held for a night in January 2023 for leading protests demanding Shahabuddin’s resignation. In his filing, Ayas characterized Shahabuddin as a close collaborator of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accusing him of providing the mandates necessary for the lethal crackdown on student protesters during the July uprising.

The Rastroshonglap Forum’s petition calls for a transparent and independent judicial inquiry to determine the extent of Shahabuddin’s legal liability regarding the 2024 national election, widespread human rights violations, and the violent suppression of the recent mass movement. The complainants maintain that these actions necessitate a full investigation into whether the former president acted as an instigator or a direct accomplice in the state’s repressive apparatus.

When approached for comment regarding the filings, International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Md. Aminul Islam declined to provide a statement.