Trial of Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Begins
Bangladesh has initiated a high-profile trial against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accusing her of orchestrating a systematic and violent crackdown on protests in 2024. The mid-2024 demonstrations, which escalated into mass unrest, reportedly resulted in up to 1,400 deaths based on United Nations estimates.
Allegations and Evidence Presented
Opening statements from the prosecution described the events as a "coordinated, widespread and systematic attack" involving law enforcement and armed party members to suppress the uprising. Sheikh Hasina, currently in self-imposed exile in India, has denied all charges, labeling them politically motivated.
The prosecution has compiled substantial evidence, including:
- Video and audio recordings
- Intercepted phone calls
- Helicopter and drone flight data
- Witness testimonials from victims and their families
Charges against Hasina include abetment, incitement, complicity, facilitation, conspiracy, and failure to prevent mass murder during the protests in July 2024.
Key Figures and Trial Context
Alongside Hasina, former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, currently in custody, and ex-interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who remains at large, are also implicated. The trial is taking place at the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka and is being broadcast live by state television.
The tribunal, originally established in 2009 to try crimes from the 1971 independence war, has faced criticism for allegedly being used to target political opponents. Notably, several opposition leaders from the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami party were sentenced under Hasina’s previous tenure.
Recent Political Developments
In a significant political development, Bangladesh's Supreme Court recently overturned a ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami party, permitting it to participate in upcoming elections. Conversely, Hasina’s Awami League remains banned by the interim government, which has committed to holding new general elections by June 2026.
Judicial Stance and Forward Outlook
The chief prosecutor emphasized that the case aims to uphold justice rather than settle political scores, stating the trial reflects a dedication to ensuring no crimes against humanity occur in a democratic society.
This trial marks the second hearing related to the former administration's response to the protests. Earlier proceedings addressed police involvement in the killing of protesters on the day Hasina fled the country in August 2024.
