Bangladesh court orders arrest of former PM Sheikh Hasina, 45 others for ‘crimes against humanity’

A Bangladeshi court on Thursday issued an arrest warrant against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina—who fled to India in August after she was toppled from power following a mass student movement—for alleged crimes against humanity, news agency PTI reported.

The report said Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal issued arrest warrants against Hasina and 45 others, including top Awami League leaders, in connection with alleged crimes against humanity during the recent mass student movement.

The crimes tribunal, led by its chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumdar, passed the orders after the prosecution filed two petitions with the tribunal, seeking arrest warrants against them, Bangladesh English daily The Daily Star quoted Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam as saying.

The tribunal's chief prosecutor said, “The tribunal has also directed the authorities concerned to produce the 46, including Hasina, before it after arresting them by November 18.”

“Sheikh Hasina was at the helm of those who committed massacres, killings and crimes against humanity from July to August,” Islam said.

The Daily Star, citing sources, reported that former ministers Obaidul Quader, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Hasan Mahmud and Anisul Huq are among the 46.

It is important to note that the Bangladesh interim government led by Muhammad Yunus on October 14, reconstituted the ICT by appointing Justice Mortuza as chairman, and Justice Shafiul and former judge Mohitul as members. Justice Mortuza, Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Justic Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury joined the tribunal next day.

The report said the tribunal has so far received over 60 complaints of crimes against humanity and genocide against former prime minister Hasina and many of her party men.

Over 230 people were killed in Bangladesh in the incidents of violence that erupted across the country following the fall of the Hasina government, taking the death toll to more than 600 since the massive protests by students against a controversial quota system in government jobs first started in mid-July.