Bangladesh is pursuing a trial for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the International Criminal Court (ICC), seeking accountability for alleged crimes committed during her rule. This development follows Hasina’s fleeing to India in August 2024 amid widespread protests against her government’s controversial job quota system.
Sheikh Hasina, leader of the Awami League party, has faced accusations of serious human rights violations, including orchestrating a “massacre” during the mass uprisings of July and August, as well as being involved in enforced disappearances over the last 15 years. The interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus after Hasina’s departure, is determined to hold her and her allies accountable.
During a meeting with ICC Prosecutor Karim A. Khan, Yunus discussed the plans for Hasina’s prosecution, highlighting the charges against the former prime minister and her associates. The charges are being processed in Bangladesh’s Internal Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD), which has already issued arrest warrants for Hasina and several of her government officials.
Yunus expressed his intention to request Hasina’s return from India, where she sought refuge, and called for her to face trial for the atrocities committed under her administration. In addition, the government is seeking international cooperation, including help from Interpol to secure Hasina’s repatriation.
The ICC Prosecutor, however, noted that the court is keen to cooperate with the ICT-BD in this matter. Karim A. Khan also updated Yunus on the ongoing efforts to hold Myanmar’s military leadership accountable for the crimes committed against the Rohingya population. The ICC has already sought an arrest warrant for Myanmar’s military chief, Min Aung Hlaing, over crimes against humanity in the Rohingya crisis.
The discussions between Yunus and Khan also covered humanitarian assistance for the Rohingya refugees and the broader implications of the Bangladesh mass movement. Yunus emphasized the importance of international collaboration in both the domestic trial of Hasina and the wider issue of accountability for human rights violations in the region.
With ongoing political tensions and a legacy of human rights allegations, the international community’s response to these requests from Bangladesh remains crucial in determining whether Sheikh Hasina will face trial for her alleged actions.
Sources By Agencies
