Bangladesh’s interim authorities on Sept 4 approved a legal amendment that will bar anyone formally charged with crimes against humanity from seeking elected office or holding government jobs.
The change, made to the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act of 1973, introduces a fresh clause disqualifying such individuals from becoming parliamentarians, local body representatives or civil servants.
Press secretary to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, Shafiqul Alam, said the provision applies the moment a chargesheet is filed under Section 9(1) of the law. “Those charged will no longer be eligible to contest polls or remain in the service of the republic,” he explained. This move follows a recommendation from the Election Commission a day earlier, which called for fugitives from justice to be barred from elections and sought to scrap the online system for filing nominations.