Bangladesh’s Tribunal Begins Trial Against Ex-PM Sheikh Hasina Over Crimes Against Humanity

<p>Dhaka, Aug 3 (PTI) Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Sunday commenced the trial of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in absentia over crimes against humanity related to the violent suppression of the 2024 student-led protests.</p>
<p>The interim government-appointed Chief Prosecutor, Tajul Islam, in his opening statement, described Hasina as the “nucleus of all crimes” and called for the maximum penalty.</p>
<p>The prosecution also named Hasina’s two top aides — former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullaah Al Mamun — as the co-accused in the case.</p>
<p>The ICT commenced the proceedings against Hasina on several charges, with the major one being killings and tortures to tame last year&rsquo;s Students Against Discrimination (SAD)-led violent street campaign that eventually toppled her Awami League government on August 5, 2024.</p>
<p>While Hasina and Kamal are being tried in absentia, Mamun is in custody and has agreed to be the &ldquo;approver&rdquo; in the case.</p>
<p>The prosecution said it would present testimonies from individuals injured during the protests and eyewitnesses to the violence in the coming days.</p>
<p>Hasina fled Bangladesh on August 5 last year amid escalating unrest and is currently residing in India.</p>
<p>Former home minister Kamal reportedly too later took refuge in the neighbouring country.</p>
<p>The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has sought Hasina’s extradition, but India has yet to respond to the request.</p>
<p>The ICT, originally established to prosecute war crimes from Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War, indicted Hasina, Kamal, and Mamun on July 10.</p>
<p>Last month, Hasina was also sentenced to six months in prison in absentia in a contempt of court case by the ICT.</p>
<p>It marked the first time that the 77-year-old Awami League leader has been sentenced in any case since she left office in August last year.</p>
<p>According to a UN rights office report, up to 1,400 people were killed between July 15 and August 15 last year as Hasina’s government ordered a security crackdown on protesters.&nbsp;</p>
<p><em><strong>(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)</strong></em></p>