Bangladesh Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

Dhaka, Bangladesh — A Bangladeshi court has issued an arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in August following her ousting from power amid mass protests. The warrant, issued by Bangladesh’s International Criminal Tribunal (ICT), accuses Hasina of involvement in “crimes against humanity” during the violent demonstrations that led to the deaths of hundreds.

The protests, which initially began as student-led demonstrations against government job quotas, escalated into widespread unrest, making it one of the bloodiest periods in Bangladesh since its independence in 1971. The country’s interim health ministry reported that more than 1,000 people were killed in the violence between July and August this year.

Hasina, who served as Bangladesh’s prime minister for over two decades, was widely criticized for her authoritarian rule, with her government accused of suppressing dissent and cracking down on opposition voices. Following her departure, she has not been seen in public, and her last known location was a military airbase near New Delhi, India.

Mohammad Tajul Islam, the chief prosecutor for the ICT, announced the court’s decision on Thursday, stating, “The court has… ordered the arrest of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and to produce her in court on November 18.” Islam added that Hasina was allegedly involved in overseeing the massacres and killings during the protests.

Arrest warrants have also been issued for 45 other individuals, including former government ministers who fled the country alongside Hasina. The tribunal, reconstituted by Bangladesh’s interim government, has begun investigating several cases accusing the former leader of orchestrating the mass killings during the protests.

Hasina’s sudden departure to India has placed the country’s government in a difficult position, especially as Bangladesh’s new interim administration has revoked her diplomatic passport. While Bangladesh and India have an existing extradition treaty, which allows for the transfer of fugitives between the two countries, the treaty includes a provision that permits refusal if the offense is deemed “political.”

Hasina’s extended stay in India has sparked controversy, with many in Bangladesh expressing frustration over India’s decision to provide shelter to the former leader. India’s handling of the situation is seen as complicating its relations with the new interim government in Dhaka.

Sheikh Hasina, 77, created the ICT in 2010 to investigate war crimes from Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. However, the tribunal faced criticism from the United Nations and human rights groups for procedural flaws and was seen by many as a tool for Hasina to target political opponents.

Meanwhile, Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed, has defended his mother, stating last month that she is prepared to face trial, asserting, “My mother has done nothing wrong.” As the tribunal continues its proceedings, the future of one of Bangladesh’s most prominent political figures remains uncertain.