Bangladesh has indicted former PM Sheikh Hasina for crimes against humanity for her involvement in the 2024 student revolution. Prosecutors claim Sheikh Hasina personally ordered brutal crackdowns that killed more than a thousand people.
The charges, read live on June 1 by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), represent a historic change in Bangladesh’s political and legal landscape. Sheikh Hasina stepped down in August 2024 and went into exile in New Delhi in the face of mass protests.
Prosecutors Assert Killings Were ‘Planned’
Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam stated that the government planned the brutal crackdown. “These killings were planned,” he asserted in the live hearing. He showed encrypted communications between government agencies and supporter groups. The evidence comprises phone recordings, drone and helicopter records, and witness statements.
Tajul Islam added that Sheikh Hasina employed both state personnel and party-affiliated armed forces to suppress demonstrations. “The accused unleashed all law enforcement agencies and her armed party men to suppress the rebellion,” he added. “It was a coordinated, widespread and systematic attack.”
1,400 Lives Lost in Two Months
The UN estimates that there were some 1,400 fatalities between July and August 2024. The protests started as peaceful student demonstrations against quotas for jobs. But it soon escalated into violent confrontations once government forces joined in. This was one of the bloodiest moments in Bangladesh‘s history since 1971.
The tribunal enlisted 81 persons as witnesses. They testified on shootings, disappearances, and other abuses. Prosecutors allege that Hasina is responsible for these acts through “command responsibility.”.
Sheikh Hasina’s Resignation & Corruption Charges
Sheikh Hasina resigned after 15 years of rule. Demonstrators swarmed the streets calling for her resignation. Under pressure, she departed the nation with some members of her family. Prosecutors have now charged them with further corruption.
The tribunal began trying eight police officers on May 25 for killing six protesters on August 5—the day Hasina fled. Authorities have arrested four officers and are trying the others in absentia.
It’s the first time the ICT has indicted a former PM with crimes against humanity. The live telecast shows increased calls for transparency and accountability. Bangladesh is now being held accountable for the abuse of power and force.
