A Bangladeshi court has issued a second arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, alongside 11 others, over enforced disappearances during her rule. Over 500 alleged abductions occurred under her administration. The interim government plans to prosecute her for crimes against humanity linked to a student uprising that culminated in her ousting in 2024.
Dhaka: Today (Jan 6th), a court in Bangladesh has issued a second arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on charges of enforced disappearances during her tenure, the chief prosecutor of the domestic International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) confirmed on Monday.
This comes in addition to a prior warrant issued against Hasina on charges of crimes against humanity. The latest warrant also names 11 other individuals, including her military adviser, security personnel, and law enforcement officials, for their alleged involvement in the crimes.
During Sheikh Hasina’s rule, over 500 people were allegedly abducted by Bangladeshi security forces, with some detained in secret facilities for years. Many victims have started to come forward since her government was toppled, recounting harrowing experiences of detention and mistreatment.
Chief prosecutor Tajul Islam emphasized the importance of due process, stating,
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“We want to ensure the trial concludes as soon as possible, but that doesn’t mean we will break the law or impose a verdict without due process.”
Sheikh Hasina, now 77 years old, fled to India on August 5, 2024, after her regime was ousted by a student-led revolution. Since then, dozens of her allies have been arrested on allegations of involvement in a police crackdown that resulted in more than 700 deaths during the unrest.
In December 2024, Bangladesh requested India to extradite Hasina for trial, but Delhi has yet to respond.
The initial arrest warrant, issued in October 2024, accused Sheikh Hasina and 45 others of crimes against humanity during the July-August student uprising that led to her downfall. Prosecutors argued that her administration and security agencies were directly responsible for killing protesters and others during the violent demonstrations.
The Yunus-led interim government has committed to prosecuting Hasina and others for alleged crimes tied to the uprising. The government has also invited the United Nations to assist in investigating the killings.
In response, Hasina has called for an independent inquiry into the killings, suggesting that “many deaths may have involved others beyond security agencies.” With mounting international attention, the tribunal has hinted at seeking Interpol’s help to bring Sheikh Hasina back to Bangladesh for trial if necessary.
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