Bangladesh Special Tribunal Indicts Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for Crimes Against Humanity



Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has formally indicted ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in absentia on charges of crimes against humanity related to the violent crackdown on student protests during the July-August 2024 uprising that led to her removal from power.


The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Mozumder, framed five charges against Hasina along with former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and ex-Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun. While Hasina and Khan are currently in exile in India, Mamun is in custody and has pleaded guilty, offering to become a state witness.


The charges include orchestrating mass killings, murder, and torture of protesters. Prosecutors presented evidence including a leaked audio recording in which Hasina’s voice allegedly orders security forces to “use lethal weapons” against demonstrators. According to a UN report, up to 1,400 people were killed in the crackdown.


The tribunal rejected defense pleas to dismiss the charges and set August 3 as the trial date. Hasina fled Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, following the mass uprising that ended her 16-year rule. The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has formally requested her extradition from India, which has yet to respond.


This indictment marks the first formal trial stage against Hasina and her aides for crimes committed during the protests, underscoring the deep political and judicial turmoil in Bangladesh. If convicted, the accused could face severe penalties, including the death sentence.

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