Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) formally indicted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two senior officials on Sunday, marking the beginning of a landmark trial over their alleged involvement in the violent suppression of student-led protests last year.
The three-member judicial bench took cognizance of the charges, which include mass murder, and ordered the commencement of trial proceedings in absentia against Ms. Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. The third accused, former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, is currently in custody and will face trial in person.
“We do hereby take into cognizance the charges,” the bench declared after the prosecution formally presented the case, accusing the defendants of deploying excessive force to quell the protests that ultimately led to the fall of Hasina’s government in mid-2024.
The indictment includes charges of superior command responsibility, with the prosecution alleging that Hasina exercised unchecked authority in directing the violent crackdown. Khan Kamal and Al-Mamun face additional accusations of provocation, complicity, abetment, instigation, and facilitation of crimes committed during the suppression.
In a historic first, the tribunal proceedings were broadcast live on national television, drawing widespread public attention. However, the start of the trial was briefly delayed after unidentified assailants hurled three crude bombs at the tribunal’s main gate early Sunday morning. According to police reports, two of the devices detonated without causing casualties, while the third was safely defused. Law enforcement agencies are reviewing CCTV footage to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
The tribunal also issued a renewed arrest warrant for Sheikh Hasina and Khan Kamal, both of whom are believed to be abroad. Authorities have not provided updates on their current whereabouts.
The charges stem from a nationwide protest movement led by students and youth groups in 2024, which was met with a forceful government response, triggering domestic and international condemnation.
Sunday’s hearing marks a significant moment in Bangladesh’s judicial history, as the ICT takes on a high-profile case with far-reaching political and legal implications.
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