Bangladesh becomes first South Asian nation to join ICC
Bangladesh has become the first country in South Asia to join the International Criminal Court based in The Hague.
Bangladesh has become the first country in South Asia to join the International Criminal Court based in The Hague.
The Statute will enter into force for Bangladesh on June 1, 2010, bringing the total number of States Parties to the Rome Statute to 111.
"The government of Bangladesh ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court," the ICC said in a statement.
India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have not signed on to the ICC, which is currently investigating crimes that have occurred in Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and the Central African Republic.
In 2009, the ICC issued its first arrest warrant for a sitting head-of-state, Sudanese President Omar-al Bashir, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Darfur conflict.
Reacting to Bangladesh's ratification of the Rome Statute, ICC President Judge Sang-Hyun Song noted that "by ratifying the Rome Statute, Bangladesh will become the first State Party in South Asia".
"I applaud its decision to join the growing commitment of states to end impunity for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide," he said.