Bangladesh’s International Crime Tribunal (ICT)  has issued a show cause notice to the country’s deposed Prime Minister, Sheikh Haseena and her aide, Shakil Alam Bulbul, in a contempt of court case. Headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumdar, the tribunal passed an order on Wednesday based on the content of an audio of ex PM Haseena. It is through this audio that Hasina interfered in the judicial process and issued threats to the tribunal, as reported by the state-run BSS News agency.

The tribunal has now instructed Haseena and Shakil Alam Bulbul, the leader of the band Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of Awami League, to respond to the show cause notice by May 15.

The investigation agency conducted forensic tests and confirmed that the voice belongs to Sheikh Haseena,” the ICT prosecutor said.

Bangladesh’s Stand

The current Mohammad Yunus-led interim government in Bangladesh has issued several warrants against the former PM, her family members and the Awami League supporters after coming to power in August last year. A tribunal of Bangladesh issued an arrest warrant last month against Haseena and four others, including former Inspector General of police (IGP) Bennazir Ahmed, for their involvement in the alleged mass killing at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka in 2013. 

India’s relations with Bangladesh are also under strain because the former Prime Minister is currently stationed in India, while the government of Bangladesh has many times urged for the extradition of Sheikh Hasina back to Bangladesh.