International Criminal Court Complaint Filed Against Bangladeshi Government Led by Advisor Muhammad Yunus Over Alleged Atrocities
November 8, The Hague – Today, a high-profile complaint was filed at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, accusing the Bangladeshi government, under the de facto leadership of Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, of committing grave international crimes. Submitted under Article 15 of the Rome Statute, the complaint implicates Yunus and 61 others in orchestrating acts of violence, repression, and persecution against political opponents, minority groups, and law enforcement officials across Bangladesh.
The complaint was brought forward by Mr. Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, Mayor of Sylhet, who alleges that the government, under Yunus’s directives, engaged in coordinated violence from August 5 to August 8, resulting in widespread bloodshed. Specifically, Chowdhury’s filing claims the government targeted members of the Bangladesh Awami League and its affiliated groups, as well as Bangladeshi minority communities, including Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist populations, in addition to police forces. The acts described in the complaint include mass killings, forced evictions, systematic violence, and widespread property destruction.
Allegations of Massacre and Persecution
Mayor Chowdhury’s complaint alleges that Yunus’s administration executed a campaign of violent suppression under the pretense of quelling a student-led anti-quota protest movement. According to the complaint, these alleged acts led to the deaths of thousands, incidents of sexual violence, mass displacement, and substantial destruction of personal and public property. The accusation further states that the actions amounted to human rights abuses and crimes against humanity.
An 800-page dossier accompanying the complaint includes documentation, witness testimony, and evidence of systematic persecution. The complaint emphasizes that these crimes were orchestrated and executed with calculated precision to destabilize opposition voices, instill fear among minority groups, and consolidate power illegally under Yunus’s rule. Furthermore, the alleged crimes caused long-lasting social and economic devastation, forcing many to flee their homes and leaving countless families without shelter or resources.
High-Profile Accused
The complaint not only names Muhammad Yunus as a primary perpetrator but also implicates a network of high-profile individuals alleged to be complicit in the violent acts. Among the 62 accused are:
- Asif Nazrul, prominent activist and advisor
- Retired Lieutenant General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury
- Retired Brigadier General Shakhawat Hossain
- Syeda Rezwana, a close associate of Yunus
- Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, both members of Yunus’s advisory council
Additionally, the complaint lists key figures from the student organization known as the Student Equity Alliance, a group allegedly involved in coordinating violent suppression. Notable names include Mohammad Hasnat Abdullah, Sarzis Alam, Abdul Hannan, Hasib Al Islam, and Abu Bakr Mazumdar.
Evidence Presented to ICC
Mayor Chowdhury’s filing includes nearly 800 pages of documentary evidence, purportedly illustrating a comprehensive pattern of crimes committed by the Yunus administration. The documents are said to contain photographic evidence, audio recordings, witness statements, and official records pointing to a coordinated campaign targeting political rivals and vulnerable communities. The evidence claims to show that Yunus’s government, from August 5 to August 8, directed organized attacks resulting in widespread fatalities, forced migration, sexual violence, and destruction of property, intended to suppress dissent and impose control across the nation.
The filing presents an argument that these actions amount to international crimes of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity under ICC jurisdiction. Mayor Chowdhury, in his statement, emphasized that “this legal step is taken to hold perpetrators accountable and to seek justice for the victims and families affected by these horrific acts.”
Future Filings and Expanded Legal Efforts
In addition to the current filing, Mayor Chowdhury’s legal team—led by Barrister and Solicitor Nijhoom Majumder , Barrister and Solicitor Munirul Islam Manju, and S. Shakir Uddin, Chairman of Gov Wise Ltd.—is reportedly preparing for an influx of additional complaints. With over 15,000 individual cases expected to be filed in the coming months, legal representatives are working to consolidate evidence and submit further documents to the ICC on behalf of those affected by the alleged acts. This large-scale effort is anticipated to bring widespread international attention to the situation in Bangladesh and could lead to further legal repercussions for those accused.
The complaint, if accepted, would prompt the ICC to initiate a preliminary examination, which could lead to a full investigation. The process, however, is lengthy, as it requires rigorous evaluation of evidence, witness testimony, and international legal scrutiny. If substantial grounds are found, the ICC could move forward with issuing warrants or summoning individuals for trial.
Statement from Legal Representatives
Barrister and Solicitor Nijhoom Majumder , one of the lead barristers on the case, noted that “the allegations brought forward in this complaint highlight a deliberate, systematic effort to repress opposition and minority voices within Bangladesh. The ICC is the last resort for the victims, who have exhausted all domestic avenues for justice.”
The filing has already garnered significant attention from international human rights organizations, who are closely monitoring the ICC’s response. This unprecedented complaint marks the first formal step in bringing charges against high-ranking officials within Yunus’s administration.
The legal team, based at Law Valley Solicitors in Stratford, London, is mobilizing resources to facilitate the filing process for additional complainants in the coming weeks.