Strategic Meeting Advances Justice and Accountability in Bangladesh

On September 2, 2024, internationally renowned human rights lawyer Toby Cadman, met with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka to discuss the urgent need for establishing a domestic tribunal with international support to prosecute individuals accused of crimes against humanity, economic crimes, and political corruption. This meeting, held at the State Guest House Jamuna, was arranged by Change Initiative, a key partner of the Institute of Strategy and Tactics Research (ISTR) under the Bangladesh Program. M. Zakir Hossain Khan and Salman Chowdhury also participated in this strategic dialogue.

This critical engagement comes as part of ISTR’s long-standing collaboration with Toby Cadman and Change Initiative to champion justice for Bangladesh’s people, focusing on enforced disappearances, unlawful digital surveillance, and human rights violations. The meeting underscored the necessity of building a robust legal framework for truth, justice, and accountability—one that is endorsed by the international community and aligned with the demands of the people of Bangladesh.

Cadman highlighted the importance of expediting the process of establishing a tribunal and developing mechanisms to extradite individuals involved in crimes who have fled the country. The Chief Adviser expressed his government’s commitment to holding internationally recognized trials and repatriating billions laundered during previous regimes.

This meeting marks a pivotal moment in the pursuit of justice and reinforces ISTR’s strategic vision of holding perpetrators accountable for international crimes, ensuring that Bangladesh moves forward with integrity and rule of law.