A Bangladesh court has officially begun the trial of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in absentia along with two of her close aides, over crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising last year.
The three-member bench of the International Crimes Tribunal, headed by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Mazumder, ordered charges to be framed against the exiled leader Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.
Among the accused, Hasina and Khan are reportedly staying in India while former police chief Mamun is in custody.
The defendants did not have their own legal counsel present; instead, a state-appointed lawyer represented them during the hearing.
The former police chief has admitted to involvement in crimes against humanity committed during the uprising and now serves as a witness for prosecution in the trial.
Earlier, on June 1, the tribunal formally accepted charges against the ousted leader for her alleged role in the July mass killings.
According to a report by the UN human rights office, up to 1,400 people were killed in the unrest between July and August 2024, including children, who accounted for 12% of the casualties.
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
A recent media investigation linked Hasina to the use of lethal force during the uprising that led to the fall of her government, intensifying calls for her deportation from India to face trial.
In her first public statement after fleeing to India on August 5, 2024, issued through her son Sajeeb Wazed, Hasina denied responsibility for the deaths during the protests. Instead, she called for an investigation into the protest-related killings and expressed grief over the destruction of her father’s house, framing herself as a victim seeking justice.
Hasina has categorically denied all accusations of crimes against humanity, including charges of abetment, incitement, complicity, facilitation, conspiracy, and failure to prevent mass murder.
Her state-appointed defence lawyer, Amir Hossain, has argued that the charges are baseless and politically motivated, emphasising her contributions to Bangladesh’s development, such as major infrastructure projects like the Padma Bridge and Dhaka Metro Rail.
Hasina’s defence team, supported by statements from her Awami League party, has described the trial as a “show trial” driven by political conflict and revenge rather than evidence. They argue that the charges do not meet the criteria for crimes against humanity, as no war occurred, and the events stemmed from political unrest rather than systematic atrocities.
Hasina has been in India since her government was ousted on August 5. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus later formed a transitional government, which has formally requested her return. Delhi, however, has yet to respond affirmatively.
