Dhaka, March 7, 2025 (BBS-Prothom Alo) – Toby Cadman, the Special Advisor to the Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), has urged the Interim Government of Bangladesh to refer the July-August 2024 massacre cases to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. This call is to ensure international justice and accountability for the horrific events that unfolded during the July Uprising in Bangladesh.

Cadman, a highly experienced international criminal law expert with a background in Bosnia, Kosovo, Rwanda, Yemen, Syria, and Ukraine, recommended this course of action during a key meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna. The meeting revolved around ICC involvement in investigating the July-August 2024 massacres, which led to the deaths of hundreds of students, workers, and protesters.

International Criminal Court’s Role in Holding Perpetrators Accountable

During the meeting, Toby Cadman stressed the importance of international cooperation between Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) and the ICC under the principles of complementarity. The goal is to ensure accountability for the perpetrators of these crimes against humanity. This would overcome the legal hurdles posed by absconding accused individuals who are being shielded by foreign states.

Both Cadman and Yunus discussed how Bangladesh could collaborate more effectively with the ICC to hold accountable those responsible for the violence against students and workers during the July-August 2024 Uprising. Cadman also proposed reforms to the ICT, including changes to its legal framework and a name change to reflect a break from the past autocratic regime.

Key Reforms to Ensure Fair Trials and Accountability

The meeting also covered necessary legal reforms to ensure that fair trials and due process are upheld. One critical issue discussed was the death penalty, with emphasis on ensuring all parties involved in the trials are provided with their fundamental rights. Additionally, the need for updated procedural rules of evidence was acknowledged, to align the ICT’s operations with international standards.

Professor Yunus underscored the importance of ensuring witness protection and transparency throughout the legal proceedings. The discussions also touched upon the seizure and repatriation of stolen assets from the previous regime, which was another step toward recovering Bangladesh’s resources and ensuring justice.

UN Fact-Finding Mission Confirms Crimes Against Humanity

The meeting followed the release of the UN fact-finding mission report, which confirmed that crimes against humanity were committed during the July Uprising. The report highlighted the brutal crackdown that led to the deaths of over 1,400 individuals, primarily students, protesters, and workers. Professor Yunus emphasized the need to identify and prosecute those responsible for orchestrating these massacres.

“It is crucial to hold those accountable who ordered the massacres of 1,400 students and workers during the July Uprising,” said Professor Yunus. “The UN fact-finding mission has done an excellent job in exposing the real perpetrators of the violence, and now we must bring them to justice.”

Bangladesh’s Future: Hope, Resilience, and Accountability

The meeting concluded with Professor Yunus presenting Toby Cadman with a symbolic gift: a copy of the book “Art of Triumph: Graffiti of Bangladesh’s New Dawn”, which symbolizes the resilience and determination of the Bangladeshi people to achieve justice and accountability in their new era.