Bangladesh’s Ousted PM Sheikh Hasina Indicted for Atrocities

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

DHAKA — Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been formally charged with crimes against humanity for her alleged role in a violent crackdown on student protests that left hundreds dead last year. The special tribunal is proceeding without her as she remains in exile in India.

A three-member tribunal in Dhaka accepted five charges against Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, and ex-police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. The charges stem from last year’s student-led uprising, which saw security forces respond with deadly force to protests demanding Hasina’s resignation.

The UN human rights office estimated up to 1,400 people may have been killed during the three-week crackdown that continued even after Hasina fled Bangladesh for India on August 5.

The tribunal opened proceedings on June 5 and has set August 3 for the prosecution’s opening statement and August 4 for witness testimonies. Both Hasina and Khan are being tried in absentia as they remain in India.

Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, has formally requested India extradite the former leaders, but Indian authorities have not responded. Authorities have also published newspaper advertisements summoning Hasina and Khan to appear before the court.

Hasina’s Awami League party condemned the tribunal, dismissing it as a politically motivated “kangaroo court” aimed at silencing the opposition ahead of elections. The party claims the proceedings lack transparency and violate basic legal standards.

Prosecutors, however, have submitted leaked audio recordings and official documents as evidence implicating Hasina in the deadly crackdown. Former police chief Al-Mamun, who was arrested and appeared before the tribunal, pleaded guilty and promised to testify for the prosecution at a later stage.

Observers view the trial as a crucial test of Bangladesh’s commitment to accountability and human rights. The interim government says it is determined to address past abuses, while critics argue the proceedings risk deepening political divisions.

The outcome of the case could significantly influence Bangladesh’s political landscape, diplomatic relations with India, and the broader stability of the region.

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