The International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh has charged over a dozen former government officials, including ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, with “enabling massacres” during a mass uprising in August. The tribunal has given investigators one month to complete their probe against Hasina and submit a report by December 17. Hasina, who fled to India after her regime collapsed, faces charges of “massacres, killings, and crimes against humanity” but remains a fugitive in exile. The tribunal’s chief prosecutor has sought help from Interpol to arrest Hasina, but India, where she is currently residing, could decide whether to extradite her based on its laws.
During Hasina’s nearly 16-year tenure, widespread human rights abuses, including mass detentions and extrajudicial killings, were reported. The unrest in August was sparked by protests against a controversial quota system in government jobs, but soon turned into a demand for Hasina’s removal. The government’s response to the protests was brutal, with security forces killing over 1,000 people and arresting thousands in three weeks.
Interim leader Muhammad Yunus has vowed to seek Hasina’s extradition from India, which could strain relations between the two countries. Yunus also claimed that as many as 3,500 people were abducted during Hasina’s rule. The tribunal has set a deadline for completing the investigation, as prosecutors continue to push for Hasina’s arrest and trial for her alleged involvement in the violent crackdown on protesters.
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