The Hague-based ICC accused Russian President Putin of responsibility for war crimes committed in Ukraine. How to successfully extradite the Russian leader to face trial could prove a far greater challenge. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, over responsibility for war crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine during the war ongoing for over a year. The court's accusation centered around the alleged deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. Moscow said the warrant had no legal bearing on the Russian president.  What do we know about the warrant? ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan said his office identified incidents of deporting "at least hundreds of children" taken from Ukrainian orphanages and children's care homes. Many of the children are alleged to have been offered for adoption in Russia since. Khan referred to a legal amendment, based on presidential decrees, which essentially facilitated the adoption of the children by Russian families. "My office alleges that these acts, amongst others, demonstrate an intention to permanently remove these children from their own country," Khan said. "We cannot allow children to be treated as if they are the spoils of war." The Hague-based court said there were reasonable grounds to believe that Putin "committed the acts directly, jointly with others and/or through others," or that he failed to properly control "civilian and military subordinates who committed the acts, or allowed for their commission, and who were under his effective authority and control, pursuant to superior responsibility." The court did not elaborate on how it intended to carry out the warrant. Russia tends not to cooperate with international extraditions, is not a full member of the ICC, and does not accept its jurisdiction.  The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights, on the same charges Putin was facing.  Russia says warrant 'has no meaning' Russia's Foreign Ministry quickly undermined the significance of the warrant. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the decision had "no meaning for our country, including from a legal point of view." "Russia is not a party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and bears no obligations under it," she said in a statement on the messaging app Telegram. The Kremlin said it did not recognize the ICC's authority, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying that any of the court's decisions regarding Russia were "null and void."  Peskov added that Russia found the questions raised by the warrant "outrageous and unacceptable." Former president and Putin-confidante Dmitry Medvedev also ridiculed the impact of the arrest warrant. "No need to explain WHERE this paper should be used," Medvedev wrote, using the toilet paper emoji on Twitter. Though it initially signed the Rome Statute in 2000, Moscow never ratified it to become an ICC member. In 2016, under pressure due to its illegal annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and airstrikes in Syria, Russia withdrew its ICC signature.  Ukraine also has not ratified the Rome Statute. However, Kyiv has twice accepted the court's jurisdiction over alleged crimes on its territory regarding Russia's 2014 Crimea annexation and the events both leading up to it and resulting from it. Ukraine welcomes the warrant Ukrainian officials were quick to welcome the news. President Volodymr Zelenskyy hailed it as a "historic decision from which historic responsibility will begin."  "To part children from their families, to prevent them from contacting their relatives, to hide children on the territory of Russia, to disseminate them around far-flung regions is clearly state policy of Russia, state decisions and state evil, which starts precisely with the top official of this state." Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential office, described the warrant as "just the beginning." Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also applauded the ICC decision.  "International criminals will be held accountable for stealing children and other international crimes," he wrote on Twitter in response. West hails 'important signal' from ICC Western leaders were quick to praise the bid to put Putin on trial.  US President Joe Biden called the arrest warrant "justified," adding that the move "makes a very strong point."  A US State Department spokesperson endorsed the charges. "There is no doubt that Russia is committing war crimes and atrocities [in] Ukraine, and we have been clear that those responsible must be held accountable," the spokesperson said in an emailed statement. Like Russia, the United States is also not an ICC member state. German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann described it as an "important signal of determination," in an interview with the RND network of newspapers. "Anyone who has instigated a bloody war like Putin should have to answer for it in court," Buschmann said. The French Foreign Ministry wrote on Twitter that "no-one responsible for crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine, regardless of their status, should escape justice," in a Tweet. Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly also echoed similar sentiments, stressing firm support for the people of Ukraine. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the warrant is "the start of the process of accountability." Latest international attempt to prosecute a head of state The ICC's Friday warrant makes Putin the third sitting president to be issued an arrest warrant after Sudan's Omar al-Bashir and Libya's Moammar Gadhafi Both Arab autocrats were never arrested as a result of the warrant. Gadhafi was killed in a NATO-backed 2011 uprising, and Bashir was toppled in 2019 protests then tried in Sudan, nearly a decade after his ICC warrant. Other former heads of state like Charles Taylor of Liberia, Slobodan Milosevic of the former Yugoslavia, or Radovan Karadzic of Republika Srpska faced either trial or conviction at special courts in The Hague, but not at the ICC.  The warrant means, however, that Putin would potentially avoid visiting any ICC member states, as he would risk getting arrested.

The ruling means Khan can now travel to Islamabad without being detained to face corruption charges. The former cricketer-turned-politician has been holed up in Lahore as his supporters clashed with police. An arrest warrant for Pakistan's ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan was lifted Friday, allowing him to travel to Islamabad without being held to face charges in a corruption case. One of the country's top courts suspended an arrest warrant issued against the politician after he failed to show up for a hearing on Tuesday. Khan has been holed up at his home in the eastern city of Lahore after his supporters hurled stones and clashed with police for two days to protect the former prime minister from being detained. The court ruling was expected to ease the political standoff. The cricket star turned politican is due in court on Saturday. Khan was told he could face contempt proceedings if he again failed to show up before the judge. Maryam Sharif, a leader in Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's ruling Pakistan Muslim League party, criticized the former PM for resisting arrest and lauded the security forces for their restraint. "The state can arrest him in five minutes, but it exercised restraint to avoid bloodshed," she said. Legal cases against Khan mount Khan is accused of selling gifts given to him by foreign dignitaries when he was prime minister and concealing assets, which he denies. The Election Commission of Pakistan found him guilty and barred him from holding public office for one parliamentary term. The case is one of a string of legal woes facing Khan since his ouster last April. Most of the other charges against him involve incitement to violence. Khan, who was in office from 2018 to 2022, was ousted in a no-confidence vote that he claims was part of a conspiracy by his successor, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and the United States. Both Washington and Sharif's government have denied the allegations. Khan demands early elections Since then, the 70-year-old has been demanding a snap election and holding protests across the country. Khan has avoided several court appearances since November when he was wounded in a gun attack at a protest rally in the eastern Punjab province. Khan says he fears for his life if detained, and has accused authorities of wanting him in jail to stop him from contesting the election, which must be held by October this year. After the warrant was lifted on Friday, Khan left his home for the first time in days to appear in court in Lahore in a case related to this week's clashes. He still enjoys a huge grassroots following and a large crowd of supporters mobbed his convoy as it slowly exited the compound, cheering and waving party flags. Judges later granted Khan reprieves from possible arrest until March 24 in nine other court cases. The political wrangling comes as Pakistan remains mired in an economic crisis, awaiting a bailout package of $1.1 billion (€1.03 billion) from the International Monetary Fund. The security situation is also deteriorating with a spate of deadly attacks on police, allegedly linked to the Pakistan Taliban.

Defamation cases have been filed against BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy for delivering derogatory remarks about thirty lakh martyrs and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at a rally in Dhaka. Arrest warrants have been issued against Khaleda Zia and Gayeshwar Roy in connection with the cases. Judge of Narail sadar amli court Amatul Morsheda delivered the verdict on Wednesday afternoon. Two separate defamation cases were filed against Khaleda Zia and Gayeshwar Roy in Narail. According to the case details, while delivering her speech as the chief guest at a rally in Dhaka on December 21, 2015 Begum Zia delivered adverse remarks about the number of 30 lakh martyrs in the liberation war and about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.  Being angry Sheikh Ashik Billah filed the defamation case in Narail on December 29, 2015. In the same year Goyeshwar Chandra Roy delivered adverse comment regarding the martyred intellectuals. In this connection Ashik Billah filed another defamation case. As the accused did not appear before the court so the judge issued arrest warrant against them. AH    

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Thursday issued death warrant against Syed Mohammad Kaisar for his crimes against humanity during the Liberation War. The full verdict of the Supreme Court upholding the death penalty of Jatiya Party leader and former state minister Syed Mohammed Kaiser has been received and sent to the office concerned on Thursday, said Syed Ahmed, registrar of the ICT. The death warrant has been sent to the Dhaka Central Jail, Keraniganj, Secretaries to the Home Ministry and Law Ministry and District Magistrate. Kaiser can file a petition seeking review of the death penalty within 15 days. On January 14, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld the death penalty of the Jatiya Party leader, awarded by the ICT for his crimes against humanity. The full verdict of the Supreme Court was published on Wednesday. On January 23, 2014, the International Crimes Tribunal  sentenced Syed Mohammad Kaisar to death for his crimes against humanity during the Liberation War. The ICT also sentenced him death on seven charges, life term imprisonment on four charges and 22-years-jail on three other charges. Later, Kaiser filed an appeal petition against the verdict. Source: UNB AH

A Dhaka court on Sunday issued arrest warrant for suspended acting principal of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College Naznin Ferdous and another teacher in a case filed over the suicide of a ninth grader. Judge Rabiul Alam, additional metropolitan sessions judge court-3, passed the order after cancelling their bail. The victim's mother testified before the court in today’s hearing. But the teachers were not present in court. The court cancelled their bail as the accused did not take any step, said assistant public prosecutor Mohammad Salauddin Hawlader. The teachers are- suspended acting principal of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College  Naznin Ferdous and morning shift in-charge of Bailey Road branch Jeenat Akhter. Earlier on November 25, the victim’s father Dilip Adhikari testified before the court. Aritree Adhikari, a class-IX student of the school, reportedly took her own life at their Shantinagar residence in the city on December 3, 2018 after allegedly being rebuked by teachers for using mobile phone during examination. Following the incident, Dilip Adhikari filed a case against three teachers of the school. It sparked a wave of outrage inside and outside the school and students demonstrated on the campus for three days. Later, the governing body of the school suspended three teachers -- acting Principal Nazneen Ferdous, morning shift in-charge of Bailey Road branch Jeenat Akhter and Aritree’s class teacher Hasna Hena-- over the suicide case. Source: UNB AH

A court in Dhaka on Wednesday issued the death warrant for Captain (retd) Abdul Majed, one of the convicted killers of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Judge of Dhaka’s District and Session’s Court M Helal Chowdhury issued the warrant after he was produced before his court from the jail. The court also showed him arrested in the Bangabandhu murder case. Majed was arrested from the city’s Mirpur area early Tuesday. A team of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit arrested him around 3:30am. He was produced before the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate AM Zulfiqar Hayat which sent him to jail on the day. On August 15, 1975, Bangladesh’s founding father Bangabandhu and most of his family members were assassinated by a cabal of military men. Eighteen members of his family, including Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, three sons – Captain Sheikh Kamal, Lieutenant Sheikh Jamal and 10-year-old Sheikh Russel, two daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal and Rosy Jamal, brother Sheikh Naser, peasant leader Abdur Rab Serniabat, youth leader Sheikh Fazlul Haq Moni and his wife Arzu Moni, Baby Serniabat, Sukanta Babu, Arif and Abdul Nayeem Khan Rintu, were, among others, were also killed on that fateful night. Military Secretary Brigadier General Jamil was also killed. Several members of a family in the capital’s Mohammadpur area were killed by artillery shells fired by the killers on the same day. During the assassination of Bangabandhu on August 15, 1975, Majed, Noor and Risaldar Moslehuddin along with others were present there when he was a lieutenant. On November 19, 2009, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld the death penalty of 12 convicted former army officials for the assassination of Bangabandhu and his family members. Five killers of Bangabandhu – Syed Farooq Rahman, Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Bazlul Huda, AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed and Mohiuddin Ahmed – were hanged in January 2010. Another killer Aziz Pasha met natural death in Zimbabwe in 2001. The fugitive killers are former Lt Col Khandaker Abdur Rashid, SHBM Noor Chowdhury, Shariful Haque Dalim, Rashed Chowdhury, and Risaldar Moslehuddin. Of them, the government knew the whereabouts of Noor Chowdhury, Rashed Chowdhury and Moslehuddin while it was not sure about the other three fugitives -- Rashid, Dalim and Majed. According to government sources, Noor Chowdhury has been living in Canada and Rashed Chowdhury in the USA. Source: UNB AH

A court in Dhaka has issued a warrant for the arrest of Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman and associate editor Anisul Hoque in a case filed over the death of Dhaka Residential Model College student Nayeemul Abrar Rahat from electrocution. The court of additional chief metropolitan magistrate Kaisarul Islam delivered the order on Thursday. The other accused in the case are- Kabir Bakul, Shuvashis Pramanik Shuvo, Mohitul Alam Pavel, Shah Paran Tushar, Jasim Uddin Apu, Mosharraf Hossain, Sujan and Qamrul Haider. On November 1 last year, Nayeemul Abrar died after being electrocuted while coming to attend the founding anniversary program of monthly magazine ‘Kishor Alo’. He was a student of class nine (Section Ga, Day shift) of Dhaka Residential Model School and College. After the incident, on November 6, Abrar’s father filed a case with the court of Dhaka metropolitan magistrate Md. Aminul Haque. According to the case information, on November 1, 2019 Abrar took part in the founding anniversary program of juvenile’s monthly magazine Kishor Alo held at the Dhaka Residential Model School and College ground. During the ongoing program at around 3:30 pm Abrar became unconscious after being electrocuted. The electric line that was set up for the program was unprotected. The allegation also said, no security and precautionary measures for electric system were taken which were needed. Besides, Abrar was taken to Mohakhali Universal Medical College and Hospital though Suhrawardy Hospital was nearby. The physician declared him dead at 4:51 pm after being electrocuted. But concealing the information of Abrar’s death Kishor Alo and school authorities continued the program till 7 pm. AH     

A court in Dhaka on Sunday issued a warrant for the arrest of former Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha and 10 other people in a case filed for reportedly misappropriating Tk 4 crore. Judge of the Dhaka Senior Special Judge’s Court KM Imrul Kayes passed the order after accepting the charge-sheet submitted by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), said Additional Public Prosecutor Taposh Kumar Paul. On December 10 last, the ACC pressed charges against them in the corruption case. ACC Deputy Director Benjir Ahmed submitted a charge-sheet before the same court. On December 4, the ACC approved the charge-sheet against the accused. The 10 other charge-sheeted accused in the case are Gazi Salahuddin, senior executive vice president and former head of credit division, Swapan Kumar Roy, first vice president (Credit division), Shafiuddin Askari Ahmed and Md Lutful Haque, first vice presidents of the Gulshan Corporate Branch of the Farmers Bank, M Mahbubul Haque Chisti, entrepreneur director and chairman of Audit Committee of the Farmers Bank, and Mohammad Shahjahan, Niranjan Chandra Saha, Santri Roy Simi and Ranjit Chandra Saha. Besides, Md Zia Uddin Ahmed, senior vice president and former branch manager of Gulshan Corporate Branch of the Farmers Bank, was also relieved of charges as he died during the investigation. On July 10 last, the ACC filed the case accusing the former chief justice and 10 others of accumulating illegal wealth and laundering Tk 4 crore. On September 25 last year, the anti-graft body summoned five officials of the Farmers Bank Ltd for interrogation over the deposit of Tk 4 crore in SK Sinha’s account with the Supreme Court bank of Sonali Bank Ltd. On May 6, 2018, the ACC interrogated two businessmen – Md Shahjahan and Niranjan Chandra Saha – for allegedly taking Tk 4 crore in loan from the Farmers Bank using fake documents and depositing the money in the bank account of a VVIP. SK Sinha went on leave on October 2, 2017 and left for Australia on October 13 amid a row over some of his observations in the 16th amendment verdict. Just before his departure, he had told reporters that he was not sick, contradicting the government’s claim that he went on leave on health grounds. A day after SK Sinha’s trip to Australia, the Supreme Court issued a statement, saying he was facing 11 charges, including graft, moral turpitude and money laundering. On November 11, 2017, he resigned from his post of chief justice. Source: UNB AH

A labor court has issued arrest warrant against Nobel laureate economist Dr. Muhammad Yunus in three cases filed by the sacked officials over allegation of forming trade union at the workplace. Dhaka third labor court chairman Rahibul Islam issued the arrest warrant on Wednesday. The day was fixed for Dr. Yunus to answer the issued summon but he did not appear before the court. On behalf of Dr. Yunus lawyer Raju Ahmed said before the court, Dr. Yunus is an honorable person. He is at present staying abroad for business purpose. He will appear before the court after coming to the country. As he did not give me power due to staying abroad but I would request you not to issue arrest warrant. Plaintiff of the case and general secretary of the proposed Grameen Communications workers employees union Abdus Salam said, we filed case against Dr. Yunus after being sacked for forming union at the organization. As he did not produce himself before the court so the arrest warrant has been issued. On the other hand organization’s managing director Naznin Sultana and deputy general manager Khondoker Abu Abedin surrendered before the court and sought bail. The court granted bail for them. Bench clerk of the court confirmed the matter. Earlier, on July 3 three sacked employees of Grameen Communications filed case against three persons including Dr. Muhammad Yunus with the third labor court in Dhaka. The court issued summons to appear them before the court on October 8. AH

An arrest warrant has been issued against Officer in Charge (Withdrawn) of Sonagazi model police station in connection with Nusrat Jahan Rafi murder case. The cyber court issued the warrant against him on Monday. Yesterday Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) informed that all the allegations raised against him were true. PBI headquarters Senior ASP Rima Sultana submitted the report before the court after completion of investigation of the case filed by Barrister Sayedul Haque Suman under digital security act. She told Rtv online on Sunday that after the investigation the report was submitted before the cyber court on Sunday. She said, Barrister Syed Saydul Haque Suman filed a case under digital security act against former Officer in Charge (Withdrawn) of Sonagazi model police station Moazzem Hossain. The court accepted the complain as a petition case which was filed under section 26, 29, 31 of the Digital Security Act 2018 and ordered PBI to investigate. We have found authenticity of each complain including recording the statement of Rafia and uploading that in the social media while conducting our investigation. The report was submitted before the court including the information and facts proved during the investigation. AH