DHAKA – The International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh has issued an arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid, who is currently in self-imposed exile, on charges related to the killing and torture of anti-government protestors.
According to international news agencies, the tribunal, chaired by Justice Ghulam Murtaza Mujaddar, issued the warrant during a hearing in which the prosecution requested arrest warrants for 50 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina.
Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Taj-ul-Islam argued that it would be impossible to carry out the investigation if these high-profile suspects were not apprehended. Hasina Wajid, along with several leaders of the Awami League party, faces over 60 cases related to murder, torture, and forced disappearances.
The tribunal began proceedings on these complaints, and today, after concluding the prosecutor’s arguments, issued the arrest warrant for Sheikh Hasina.
As reported by Reuters, Awami League leaders were not immediately available for comment following the issuance of the warrants, as many senior figures are either under arrest or in hiding. However, last month, Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wajid, stated that his mother was prepared to face the charges in Bangladesh, insisting she had done nothing wrong.
Sheikh Hasina Wajid fled to India by helicopter on August 5th, the day her government was ousted following months of nationwide student protests. She remains in India to this day.
The student-led protests, which resulted in the deaths of over 700 people and left more than a thousand injured, placed the blame squarely on Sheikh Hasina Wajid, her ministers, and party leaders.
Following the ousting of Hasina’s government, the military established an interim cabinet to manage state affairs, led by Nobel Laureate economist Muhammad Yunus. This cabinet includes retired military officials, student leaders, and members of various political parties, but none from Hasina Wajid’s Awami League party.
