Bangladesh’s ICT formally charges Sheikh Hasina with ‘crimes against humanity’

New Delhi (India) June 2: Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh was accused by the country's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Sunday for allowing police action against protesters last year. The tribunal also ordered that the authorities in Bangladesh bring Hasina before it on June 16.

The court ordered investigators to bring Hasina, a former home minister, and a former police chief before it. Hasina has been living in exile in India since August 2024, when her 15-year rule came to an end due to a rebellion. In December 2024, Bangladesh formally requested Hasina's extradition from India.

She is facing several cases in Bangladeshi courts, where she is charged with a number of offences which includes enforced disappearances, crimes against humanity, and mass murders.

According to the allegations filed by Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam and his team, Hasina is accused of being the main reason for the severe violence that took place during the protests in July and August.

The ICT's three-judge panel declared, "We do hereby take into cognisance the charges," after the prosecution team's argument that Ms. Hasina was in charge over a "systematic attack" against students and ordinary citizens calling for her resignation as prime minister.

The verdict which was broadcasted live on state-run BTV, was the outcome of several lawsuits filed against Ms. Hasina by victims of police abuse, when a student-led anti-quota campaign quickly turned into a larger "single-agenda movement" to remove Ms. Hasina.

According to the news agency, investigators have collected audio recordings, video footage, Hasina's phone conversations, records of helicopter and drone activities, and testimonials from crackdown victims for their investigation.

Ms. Hasina and former Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal are to be arrested under warrants issued by the ICT. Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, the former Inspector General of Police for Bangladesh, was also charged by the ICT.

The United Nations had reported that Hasina's government launched a violent campaign to suppress the demonstrators, killing about 1,400 Bangladeshis. She has been accused with crimes against humanity by Bangladesh for the murders.

Hasina, who is now living in self-imposed exile in India has denied the accusations by saying that they are politically driven.

Ms. Hasina's administration established the ICT, a domestic war crimes tribunal in 2010 with the primary goal of convicting individuals who are alleged to have worked with Pakistan in 1971.

Aadrika Tayal