Toby Cadman Calls On Bangladesh to Refer July Massacre Cases to ICC, Rename ICT

Toby Cadman, Special Adviser to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Chief Prosecutor, has called on the interim government to refer the July-August 2024 massacre cases to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

During a meeting yesterday (March 6) with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna, Cadman emphasized the need for international legal action to ensure justice for the students, protesters, and workers killed during the July Uprising.

Cadman, a leading expert in international criminal law with experience in Bosnia, Kosovo, Rwanda, Yemen, Syria, and Ukraine, discussed with Professor Yunus how Bangladesh could involve the ICC in its pursuit of justice. The meeting focused on the potential for global cooperation, the role of international courts, and the legal framework required to prosecute those responsible.

Discussions also covered the progress and challenges faced by the ICT, which has been investigating atrocities committed during Sheikh Hasina’s regime. Cadman, who also leads G37 Chambers, suggested reforms to strengthen the tribunal’s credibility, including renaming the institution to clearly signal a break from the previous government’s influence.

Key Issues Discussed

• The need to align Bangladesh’s legal framework with international human rights standards, particularly concerning the death penalty and rules of evidence to ensure fair trials.
• Measures to ensure witness safety, uphold defendants’ rights, and maintain public trust through a transparent judicial process.
• Legal strategies to seize and repatriate funds misappropriated under the previous regime.

Professor Yunus commended the ICT prosecution team, stressing the importance of maintaining the highest international standards. He confirmed that Bangladesh would soon decide whether to refer the July massacre cases to the ICC, following last month’s UN fact-finding mission report that found evidence of potential crimes against humanity.

“It is important that the world should know who ordered the massacres of 1,400 students, protesters, and workers during the July Uprising and who are the main perpetrators,” Yunus told Cadman.

“The UN fact-finding mission has done a splendid job by unmasking the real face of the (Sheikh Hasina) regime. Now we must hold the culprits accountable and serve justice,” Professor Yunus said. 

At the conclusion of the meeting, Chief Adviser Yunus presented Cadman with a copy of “Art of Triumph: Graffiti of Bangladesh’s New Dawn”, symbolizing the resilience and hope of the Bangladeshi people in this new era.