Bangladesh Azad Party has filed a complaint with the prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal accusing former presidents Abdul Hamid and Shahabuddin Chuppu of crimes against humanity. The complaint was submitted on Sunday to the chief prosecutor’s office, according to the party. Retired Lieutenant Colonel Md Hasinur Rahman, the party’s convener, spoke to journalists after the filing.

Hasinur Rahman said many people had been killed and forcibly disappeared up to August 5, while the two former presidents had never protested. He alleged that they had given silent consent to those crimes. Munshi Borhan Mahmud, the party’s chief organizer, said the complaint had been filed against both former presidents.

Mahmud cited the Pilkhana killings, the Shapla massacre, judicial killings, enforced disappearances, murders and Aynaghar among events that occurred while the two men were heads of state. He alleged that the presidents of the period supported and protected what he described as a fascist government. He further alleged that they did not protest wrongdoing and benefited as part of the ruling power, and therefore could not avoid responsibility.