New Delhi: In a dramatic escalation of international legal challenges, prominent members of the Bangladeshi diaspora in the United States have filed formal complaints with the International Criminal Court (ICC), the United Nations, and INTERPOL against Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s unelected interim regime. The complaints accuse Yunus and his associates of crimes against humanity, terrorist collusion, and constitutional subversion.
The petition, submitted on April 21, was spearheaded by Mahmudul Hasan, founder and board director of Lumen Communitatis Inc., a New York-based nonprofit. The initiative was launched under the leadership of Tanvir Kaisar, and the legal coordination was overseen by Mahfuz Haidar—all three being non-resident Bangladeshis living in the United States.
Allegations of Grave International Crimes
The submission to the ICC outlines a wide array of human rights violations allegedly committed between July 2024 and April 2025 under the Yunus-led interim government. These include:
Targeted killings of student protesters, journalists, and women
Enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, and torture
State-backed sexual violence, including the death of a pregnant police officer
Persecution of minorities including Hindus, Christians, and Ahmadiyya Muslims
Arson attacks on homes, media outlets, and courts
The mass release of over 700 death-row terrorists, allegedly reactivating extremist groups
Systematic suppression of democratic institutions and media freedom
The legal petition cites violations of multiple articles of the Rome Statute, including those related to genocide (Article 6), crimes against humanity (Article 7), war crimes (Article 8), and individual criminal responsibility (Article 25). It also references the United Nations Charter for breaches of sovereignty and minority protections, and identifies potential U.S. national security concerns linked to misuse of foreign aid and ideological destabilization.
Request for Global Action
The petitioners have requested INTERPOL to issue a Red Notice or Diffusion alert for Yunus and other implicated regime members, urging coordinated efforts with the U.S. Department of Justice and the ICC for investigation and arrest.
