Bangladesh can file complaint at ICC, says Chief Prosecutor

The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim AA Khan, met with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN Headquarters on Thursday.

The discussion focused on the ongoing ICC investigation into the deportation of Rohingyas, which began in 2019.

During the meeting, Khan updated Prof Yunus on the latest progress regarding the investigation and confirmed his plans to visit Bangladesh before the end of the year.

He commended Prof Yunus’s three-point proposal, which was presented during a separate meeting at the UN Headquarters on Wednesday, aimed at resolving the Rohingya crisis.

The proposals put forward by Prof Yunus include:

Convening an urgent conference led by the UN secretary-general to review the situation and find solutions. Revitalizing the joint response plan for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis. Intensifying international efforts to support justice and accountability for the genocide committed in Myanmar’s Rakhine state in 2017.

Karim Khan praised the proposals, describing them as “perfect” for addressing the current impasse in resolving the crisis.

Prof Yunus also inquired about the process for filing a crime against humanity case at the ICC concerning the July-August uprising, which resulted in over 700 deaths and 20,000 injuries.

In response, Khan assured him that Bangladesh could file a complaint at the Hague-based court, but emphasized that there are specific legal procedures that must be followed for such cases.

The meeting underscored both parties' commitment to addressing the Rohingya crisis and holding those responsible for atrocities accountable through the ICC.