In a dramatic development, a Bangladeshi court issued an arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday, holding her accountable for the mass killings of student protesters that occurred in July and August. This decision follows the receipt of 60 complaints alleging enforced disappearances, murders, and mass killings during the protests against Hasina’s Awami League government.
Mohammad Tajul Islam, the chief prosecutor of Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal, announced, “The court has ordered the arrest of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, with a requirement to present her in court on November 18.” The prosecution also sought arrest warrants for 50 other individuals believed to be involved in the violence.
The student protests began as a demand to end a quota system reserving 30% of government jobs for the relatives of veterans from the 1971 Bangladesh War of Independence. However, the movement escalated into calls for Hasina’s removal from power, tragically resulting in around 300 deaths.
Compounding the political tension, the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has controversially canceled all national holidays commemorating Hasina’s father, Mujibur Rehman, and Liberation Day. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from observers, many of whom accuse the government of undermining the significance of Bangladesh’s 1971 War of Independence. The Awami League condemned the move, stating, “The illegal Yunus government seeks to erase all aspects of Bangladesh’s history by pressing the reset button,” and claimed the administration is trying to impose Pakistan’s ideology on the nation.
Hasina, who has not been seen in public since fleeing Dhaka and seeking refuge in India, faces serious allegations of human rights abuses during her 15-year tenure. Prosecutors assert that “Sheikh Hasina was responsible for the massacres and crimes against humanity from July to August,” underscoring the severity of the accusations. The forthcoming court proceedings are poised to significantly influence the political landscape of Bangladesh.