The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has banned the dissemination of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s “hate speech,” citing its potential to intimidate victims and witnesses in the July-August mass killings cases.
The prosecution argued that her remarks constituted threats and could obstruct investigations.
Following hearings on domestic and international laws related to hate speech, the tribunal issued an order prohibiting the broadcast or sharing of such remarks on media and social platforms.
It also directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Information and Communication Technology Division, and the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to remove all existing content containing her alleged hate speech.
Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim said that no accused under the tribunal’s jurisdiction can make statements that compromise investigations or frighten witnesses.
“Hate speech is a criminal offence under international and domestic laws,” he said, adding that the tribunal had acted to prevent further harm.
Earlier Thursday, the tribunal, chaired by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder, issued the ban order following a prosecution petition.
Earlier in the day, Prosecutor Abdullah Al Noman submitted the petition seeking the ban.
During the session, the prosecution presented references and definitions from relevant laws and highlighted the dangers of such remarks by anyone.
Earlier, the tribunal issued an arrest warrant for Sheikh Hasina, president of the Awami League, on October 17, the first day of proceedings concerning allegations of mass killings during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in July and August.
Protests in Bangladesh, which began in July as a student-led movement against public sector job quotas, escalated into some of the deadliest in the country’s history.
On August 5, Hasina fled to India amid a mass uprising and has been there since then.
Later, Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus took office on August 8 as head of the interim government that took charge of the country after Hasina’s ouster.
Dhaka Tribune
