In a significant move that has drawn global attention, the Awami League has submitted a formal communication to the International Criminal Court (ICC), urging an investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed in Bangladesh since July 2024.
The submission, made under Article 15 of the Rome Statute, was filed by London-based barrister Steven Powles KC of Doughty Street Chambers on behalf of the Awami League. It accuses the army- and Islamist-backed interim government, led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, of orchestrating or tolerating widespread retaliatory violence against supporters and affiliates of Sheikh Hasina’s former administration.
According to the filing, around 400 Awami League leaders and activists have been killed since July 2024, many through mob beatings or lynchings, while another 25 died in custody—some showing signs of torture despite official claims of natural causes. The communication says the attacks followed nationwide unrest that led to the ouster of Hasina’s elected government on August 5, 2024.
ICC Filing and Legal Context
The communication argues that the acts described amount to crimes against humanity—specifically murder, imprisonment, and persecution—and warrant an ICC investigation. It says there is “no realistic prospect” of these crimes being investigated or prosecuted domestically, and that impunity would otherwise prevail.
Bangladesh ratified the Rome Statute on March 23, 2010, making the ICC’s jurisdiction effective in the country from June 1, 2010. Under Article 15, any individual or organization may submit information on alleged crimes to the ICC Prosecutor, who then determines whether a formal investigation should be opened.
The document, supported by witness testimony and video evidence, presents detailed accounts of brutal killings and arbitrary detentions targeting individuals affiliated with or merely perceived to be sympathetic to the Awami League. It also alleges that actors, singers, and professionals unconnected to politics were arrested on vague or fabricated charges.
“Operation Devil Hunt” and One-Sided Immunity
The submission highlights a February 2025 operation known as “Devil Hunt,” a joint police and army initiative that reportedly saw 18,000 people detained over 12 days. The interim government had described the drive as a campaign against “Awami fascism,” but the filing portrays it as a systematic crackdown on political opposition.
The document also cites an immunity order issued on October 14, 2024, which shielded participants of the so-called “July Uprising” from prosecution. A home ministry spokesperson had announced that “students and citizens who put forth all efforts to make this uprising successful will not face prosecution, arrest, or harassment for their acts between July 15 and August 8.”
According to the communication, such one-sided immunities indicate “implicit state support” for perpetrators of violence, institutionalizing impunity for crimes committed during the political transition.
Human Rights Crisis and Political Backdrop
The ICC filing follows months of allegations from rights groups of widespread abuses since the interim administration took power. Ain O Salish Kendra, a Dhaka-based human rights organization, reported that at least 318 people—including children—were killed between August 5 and 8, 2024. The Bangladesh Hindu, Buddhist, Christian Unity Council recorded over 2,000 incidents of murder, rape, and looting within two weeks of the power shift, many targeting religious minorities and Awami League supporters.
Witnesses and activists say mobs aligned with the interim authorities have raided homes and businesses of Awami League members, often in the presence of law enforcement. Detainees have allegedly been tortured in custody and attacked even inside court premises. Journalists, academics, and teachers have been charged under politically motivated cases, while police and civil service officials have been reshuffled to ensure partisan control. Access to the Bangladesh Secretariat has been restricted to media outlets aligned with the interim administration.
Strategic Significance and Next Steps
By appealing to the ICC, the Awami League is seeking to internationalize its demand for accountability, portraying the violence as part of a broader campaign of persecution against its members and supporters. The move also underscores its assertion that Bangladesh’s judicial system has been compromised and is incapable of delivering justice under the current regime.
Legal experts note that the ICC Prosecutor must first assess whether the allegations meet the Court’s threshold of gravity and systematic nature before seeking authorization from the Pre-Trial Chamber to launch a formal probe. Many such communications never advance beyond preliminary examination.
If accepted, the case could represent the first ICC investigation involving political violence in South Asia linked to a transitional government. Even if not, the filing positions the Awami League as a political victim on the international stage and draws renewed scrutiny of Bangladesh’s human rights situation.
Broader Implications
Since Hasina’s removal from office, Bangladesh’s political and social fabric has been marked by repression and fear. The interim government, which has received tacit support from Islamist groups and segments of the military, has been accused of silencing dissent while framing its actions as a drive to restore democracy.
For the Awami League, the ICC filing is not merely a legal step but a political strategy—a way to frame the violence as state-sanctioned persecution and to appeal for global recognition of the crisis. The communication’s message is clear: the crimes of the past year cannot go unpunished, and justice must now come from beyond Bangladesh’s borders.
