Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal Under Scrutiny for Due‑Process Gaps

Human Rights Watch has issued a stark warning about the due‑process shortcomings of Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal. The organization contends that the tribunal’s current legal framework threatens the right to a fair hearing for those accused of crimes linked to the 2013 Shapla Chattar rally.

The remarks followed the prosecution’s formal indictment on July 27 of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 40 others on charges of crimes against humanity and genocide. According to HRW’s South‑Asia deputy director Meenakshi Ganguli, accountability is vital, but the tribunal’s procedures fall short of international expectations.

The ICT was set up in March 2010 by the Awami League‑led government to prosecute individuals who allegedly collaborated with the Pakistani army during the 1971 Liberation War. After the Awami League’s electoral loss in 2024, an interim government headed by Mohammad Yunus amended the tribunal’s law, narrowing the definition of crimes. HRW argues that these revisions still lack essential safeguards, such as independent judicial review and transparent evidence‑sharing protocols.

Since the Bangladesh Nationalist Party assumed power in February 2026, no additional amendments have been introduced. HRW highlights that the law permits prosecutors to request arrests before presenting adequate proof, enables months‑long detention without access to an appellate court, and restricts defense lawyers from cross‑examining prosecution witnesses. The organization urges immediate reforms to align the ICT with recognized international legal standards.