Sheikh Hasina indicted for mass murder; Bangladesh holds first-ever live broadcast of trial

Dhaka: In a historic first for Bangladesh, the International Crimes Tribunal on Sunday broadcast its proceedings live on national television as it formally indicted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two others on multiple charges, including mass murder, in connection with last year’s deadly crackdown on student-led protests.

The indictment signals the beginning of Hasina’s trial in absentia, nearly 10 months after her government was toppled following an unrest.

“We do hereby take into cognizance the charges,” the three-member bench of the tribunal stated, following the prosecution’s submission accusing Hasina and others of deploying excessive force to suppress the movement.

Alongside the indictment, the tribunal issued a renewed arrest warrant for Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. The third accused, then Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, is currently in custody and will stand trial in person.

Hasina, who was ousted on August 5 last year amid intensifying protests, now faces several legal cases in Bangladesh. The ICT-BD had earlier issued an arrest warrant against her, while the interim administration sent a diplomatic request to India seeking her repatriation. India has acknowledged the request but has not issued any formal response.

Following the July–August demonstrations, many senior leaders and officials from Hasina’s Awami League government were arrested and charged with crimes including mass murder. The protests, which spiralled into widespread violence, resulted in hundreds of fatalities — among them students and police officers.

A report from the UN Human Rights Office estimates that around 1,400 people were killed between July 15 and August 15, 2024, with clashes continuing even after the fall of Hasina’s Government.