Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, along with eight members of her now-dissolved Cabinet and several police officers, has been charged with “crimes against humanity” and “genocide” in a case filed with the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Dhaka. The case, which was officially lodged on August 14, 2024, follows the death of a ninth-grade student during recent anti-government protests.
The lawsuit was initiated by Md Bulbul Kabir, the father of Alif Ahmed Siam, a student who was shot by police on August 5 during the protests and later died from his injuries. Kabir’s lawyer, Gazi MH Tanim, confirmed that the tribunal accepted the case, which accuses Hasina and her associates of orchestrating the killings of unarmed students protesting against government policies between July 1 and August 5.
The complaint alleges that the former Prime Minister and her Cabinet directed the violent suppression of protesters, using both local weapons and indiscriminate gunfire, with the intent to partially or completely eliminate them.
In addition to Sheikh Hasina, the case names several high-ranking former officials, including:
- Obaidul Quader: General Secretary of the Awami League and former Road Transport and Bridges Minister
- Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal: Former Home Minister
- Zunaid Ahmed Palak: Former State Minister for ICT
- Mohammad Ali Arafat: Former State Minister for Information and Broadcasting
- Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun: Former Inspector General of Police
- Harun Or Rashid: Former Chief of the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police
- Habibur Rahman: Former Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police
- Barrister Harun Or Rashid: Former Director General of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)
The lawsuit also implicates unnamed members of the Awami League, Chhatra League, and Jubo League, as well as other ministers and parliamentarians from the recently ousted government.
Asif Nazrul, an adviser to the transitional government on legal affairs, stated that those responsible for the deaths during the protests would be held accountable, including Sheikh Hasina. He also indicated efforts to involve the United Nations in the investigation, ensuring an impartial process.
This case adds to the mounting legal pressures on Hasina, who fled Bangladesh for India on August 5, 2024, as protests against her government intensified. The ICT, established by Hasina’s administration in 2010, has previously prosecuted opposition leaders for their roles in the 1971 war of independence.
The filing of this case marks a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s political history, underscoring the deepening conflict between the transitional government and the former ruling party. As the investigation unfolds, the potential legal and political consequences for Hasina and her associates could be significant, possibly setting a new precedent for political accountability in the country.
