With Hasina out of the picture: Trials against the former Prime Minister start in Bangladesh
Trial Initiated for Previous Prime Minister Hasina of Bangladesh
Hop on a virtual seat in the courtroom, folks! The trial of Sheikh Hasina, once the mighty prime minister of Bangladesh, has kicked off in her absence. In a heated court session, Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam accused Hasina of leading a ruthless campaign against the population, with police and armed party members brutalizing protesters during the 2024 unrest. UN reports suggest that around 1,400 innocent civilians lost their lives in these clashes.
As the curtain rose on the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh's latest trial, Islam pointed a finger at Hasina for her role in a "massacre" during the July 2024 upheaval. Her associates from the now-banned Awami League party face similar charges.
Under the radar and out of reach, Hasina, now 77, made her great escape to India by helicopter last August. The army stepped in and installed a transitional government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus. Hasina, however, refused to abide by the Dhaka-issued arrest warrant for alleged crimes concerning the 2024 turmoil.
Remember her as the iron-fist ruler of Bangladesh for an impressive 15 years? Her government was marred by numerous accusations of human rights violations, with opposition leaders routinely suffering wrongful imprisonment and even death.
Wondering why this trailblazer is standing trial now? Well, those hefty charges stem from a deadly crackdown on peaceful protests in 2024. The protests first began as demonstrations against a civil service quota that favored descendants of war veterans. Things turned ugly when security forces overreacted and instituted curfews, leading to extensive violence and loss of life.
To paint a clearer picture: Sheikh Hasina is charged with aiding, abetting, participating, conspiring, and actively choosing not to prevent a massacre during this period of chaos. Her fellow co-conspirators, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Chowdhury Mamun, the former Home Minister and police chief, respectively, also face charges of complicity, facilitation, and conspiracy.
The trial kicked off in the capital, Dhaka, with the International Crimes Tribunal accepting the charges against Hasina and the others. With Hasina living the high life in exile, the trial aims to ensure accountability for past actions and secure justice for the victims. She's set to appear in court this June 16th.
In the context of the current crisis, the Commission has decided to extend the period of validity of the programme to cover the trials against Sheikh Hasina and her associates in areas such as war-and-conflicts, politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice. The accused face numerous charges, including aiding, abetting, participating, conspiring, and failing to prevent a massacre during the 2024 unrest in Bangladesh.
