Amnesty International has expressed concern over the detention of Meghna Alam by police in plainclothes in Dhaka. "Amnesty International is deeply concerned about the use of the Special Powers Act for the arrest of model Meghna Alam. The draconian legislation, with vague, overbroad provisions, has historically been used to arbitrarily detain people for long periods of time, without charge, and without judicial oversight," Amnesty International South Asia, Regional Office said in a post on X. These constitute gross violations of due process safeguards and international human rights standards, it said. The statement added that as per media reports, Meghna's detention was shrouded in secrecy, and was allegedly carried out without a warrant, which are considered to be an alarming violation of procedural safeguards. "We call on the authorities to either charge Meghna with an internationally recognisable crime or release her. They must also end the use of and repeal the Special Powers Act," it said. Around 5:00pm on Wednesday, Meghna was detained from her residence in Dhaka's Bashundhara area while she was live on Facebook. Yesterday, she was sent to jail under a 30-day detention order issued under the Special Powers Act. The order was passed by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Dhaka around 10:00pm following a police petition.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has said that the interim government has no plans to ban the Awami League, but individuals within its leadership accused of crimes, including murder and crimes against humanity, will be tried in Bangladeshi courts. He said the government has not ruled out referring AL leaders to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, following a UN fact-finding mission that reported potential crimes during the July uprising. "It is very much on the table." Speaking with a delegation from the International Crisis Group led by its President Comfort Ero at the state guest house Jamuna yesterday, the chief adviser said the interim government has vowed to hold elections on schedule, and not delay the vote for any demands. He also confirmed that the government has set two possible timelines for the elections. He assured the group the dates would not change, said a press release from the chief adviser's press wing. Yunus explained that if political parties seek a limited number of reforms prior to polls, then the elections will be held in December. If a larger reform package is desired, then elections will take place by June next year. "We have no reason to change the election dates," he added, emphasising that the upcoming elections will be free and fair. He also shared that the Consensus Building Commission began talks with political parties yesterday. He said there are plans to finalise and sign the July Charter, which will guide the government's policies. The International Crisis Group officials praised the arrest of Rohingya insurgent leader Ataullah this week, calling it a sign of the government's commitment to peace and stability in the refugee camps. They also stressed the need for increased engagement with the Arakan Army, which controls much of Rakhine state in Myanmar. Prof Yunus noted that Dhaka is working to mobilise aid for Rohingya refugees and hopes the upcoming special UN conference on the Rohingya crisis will draw global attention to the issue. Ero expressed her group's support for Bangladesh in countering misinformation targeting the country and its government. Prof Yunus concluded by expressing Bangladesh's desire for strong relations with India, though he lamented that much of the misinformation campaign against Bangladesh has originated from Indian media.

Toby Cadman today urged the government to refer the cases of the July-August massacres to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, said a CA press wing release. Cadman is the Special Advisor to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Chief Prosecutor and has extensive experience as an international criminal law specialist. He has worked on cases in Bosnia, Kosovo, Rwanda, Yemen, Syria, and Ukraine.  He made the suggestion when he called on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the state guest house Jamuna. According to the press release, the issue of how Dhaka would involve the International Criminal Court in The Hague was also brought up and discussed during this meeting. The discussions delved into the potential for international cooperation and the roles and responsibilities of the court in Bangladesh's quest for justice. The meeting began with a detailed discussion on the progress and challenges faced by the International Crimes Tribunal. The tribunal has the task of addressing the atrocities committed during the previous regime of Sheikh Hasina, especially during the student-led uprising in July-August 2024. In the meeting between Cadman and Yunus, a number of topics were discussed concerning the applicable legal framework and the need to break from the past. Cadman, who is also the head of G37 Chambers, suggested amendments to the ICT legal and regulatory framework, including changing the name of the tribunal "to demonstrate a clear departure from the previous autocratic regime." According to the press release, it was noted in the meeting that due to certain absconding accused being shielded by foreign states, cooperation with the International Criminal Court under the principles of complementarity is required, and the two institutions should work closely together to ensure that the perpetrators are held fully accountable. The issue of the death penalty and the incorporation of procedural rules of evidence to ensure the highest standards of fair trial and due process were also discussed during the meeting. Professor Yunus expressed appreciation for the work of the ICT Prosecution team, saying they must uphold the highest international standards to ensure a fair trial and justice. The Chief Adviser also said Bangladesh would soon decide whether it would refer the July atrocities to the Hague-based ICC since the UN fact-finding mission last month reported that potential crimes against humanity were committed during the uprising. "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 were the main perpetrators. 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 to account and serve justice," he said. The issue of providing full resources to the tribunal and the prosecution was discussed to ensure that witnesses are protected, the accused receive all fundamental rights necessary for fair trials, and that the public has full and transparent access to the process. Another major point of discussion was the seizure of stolen assets by the previous regime, and the legal and procedural measures needed to recover and repatriate these assets. At the end of the meeting, Professor Yunus presented Cadman with a copy of the book "Art of Triumph: Graffiti of Bangladesh's New Dawn."