Verdicts are being delivered and sentences handed down in cases of crimes against humanity at the International Crimes Tribunal, but a large number of convicted accused remain beyond the court’s reach.
So far, 68 people have been sentenced in seven cases over crimes against humanity committed during the July 2024 uprising. Of them, a significant number are absconding, with many still untraceable.
All seven people, including Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal on Tuesday, are absconding.
According to prosecution statistics, 65 cases involving allegations of enforced disappearances, killings and torture during the Awami League government’s tenure, along with incidents during the July uprising, are under trial or investigation. The cases involve 458 accused, of whom 170 have been arrested while 288 remain absconding.
However, the figure does not represent unique individuals, as some accused appear in multiple cases and have been counted more than once.
At Tribunal-1, 44 accused have been arrested and 119 remain absconding in 15 cases under trial. In 31 cases under investigation, 83 accused have been arrested and 87 are absconding. One accused arrested during the investigation stage died by suicide.
At Tribunal-2, eight accused have been arrested and 40 remain absconding in five cases under trial. In eight cases under investigation, 14 accused have been arrested, while one is on bail.
In seven cases where verdicts have already been delivered by the two tribunals, 19 accused have been arrested and 49 remain absconding. The prosecution said 23 people have been sentenced to death in these cases, including 20 who are absconding and three who have been arrested.
Another 45 accused have received life imprisonment and other sentences.
The absconding list includes deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former army chief Aziz Ahmed, former inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed, former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Habibur Rahman, former Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) director general M Khurshid Hossain and former police officer Mohammad Harun Or Rashid.
Several former army officials, police officers, and leaders and activists of the Awami League, Jubo League, Chhatra League and affiliated organisations are also among those on the list.
In two enforced disappearance cases, 17 of the 30 accused are absconding.
Several other cases have also reached stages where the absence of accused has become a key challenge.
In the Kushtia killing case, a verdict is pending against four accused, including Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif. All accused in the case are absconding.
In the Narayanganj case over allegations of crimes against humanity, all 12 accused, including former lawmaker Shamim Osman, are also absconding.
International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam told TIMES, “During the trial process, the responsibility of arresting the accused lies with law enforcement agencies as well as the prosecution and investigation agencies of the tribunal. The prosecution also arrests accused people at different stages of investigation. However, after a verdict is delivered, the responsibility shifts to the government and law enforcement agencies.”
Prosecutor Mizanul Islam said failure to arrest accused after verdicts creates frustration among victims’ families and weakens the purpose of justice.
“Execution of verdicts is the government’s responsibility. Law enforcement agencies cannot be held entirely responsible for failing to arrest absconding accused. Many accused use multiple passports and leave the country,” he said.
Police Headquarters spokesperson AIG (Media) Shahadat Hossain said police were continuing operations to arrest the accused.
“If specific information about their whereabouts is found, they will be arrested and produced before the court,” he said.
After the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024, many senior leaders went into hiding. Some later left the country. Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Obaidul Quader are reported to be in India.
Among other high-profile leaders, many are believed to be in the United Kingdom, while some are reportedly in the United States, Belgium and Dubai.
