Bangladesh tribunal issues arrest warrants for 30

In a historic move, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has issued arrest warrants for 30 individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 24 military officers, 14 of whom are still serving. This unprecedented action targets key figures from the country’s security agencies, including the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). The move has raised tensions within the armed forces, marking a calculated assault on the institution that once upheld the state’s stability.

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, who has been using the judiciary to dismantle political opposition, is accused of leveraging the tribunal to weaken the military’s morale. The regime, once supported by the army, now seeks to neutralize it as a force independent from political control. The recent amendment also bans those accused from holding public office or contesting elections, signaling the regime’s growing control.

The military’s role in supporting the current government has turned bitter, with the army now the latest casualty of a regime that no longer needs its protection. With the military’s legitimacy in question, Yunus and his backers are tightening their grip, using legal actions to break the army’s spirit. This unprecedented move has led to calls from the army chief to protect his officers, which have been rejected by the Chief Justice, signaling the army’s diminishing power.