Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal has begun the trial of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in absentia, charging her with crimes against humanity in connection with the brutal crackdown on the 2024 student-led protests that led to the deaths of more than 1,400 people. This marks a historic and controversial development in Bangladesh’s political and judicial landscape, as it's the first time a former PM is being tried under the war crimes tribunal framework for contemporary violence, not crimes from the 1971 Liberation War.
Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam described Hasina as the "nucleus of all crimes" and demanded the highest possible penalty. Two of her former top officials — ex-Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Police Chief Chowdhury Abdullaah Al Mamun — are also named in the case. Mamun, who is in custody, has agreed to turn approver, offering insider testimony in exchange for leniency.
The charges stem from the government’s violent suppression of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) movement between July and August 2024. The protest wave was triggered by allegations of unequal access to education, government nepotism, and authoritarian clampdowns. After intense and bloody clashes, the unrest culminated in Hasina's ouster on August 5, 2024. She subsequently fled to India, where she is believed to be residing, alongside Kamal.
The interim government, headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has formally requested Hasina’s extradition, though New Delhi has yet to respond. The tribunal, which was originally created to prosecute war crimes from 1971, expanded its jurisdiction to include crimes against humanity committed during internal political conflicts, sparking both domestic and international debate over due process and the scope of justice.
The ICT indicted Hasina and her aides on July 10, and last month sentenced her to six months in prison for contempt of court — her first conviction since leaving office. The tribunal says it will present witness testimonies and forensic evidence, including footage of security forces firing on unarmed demonstrators.
According to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the one-month crackdown between July 15 and August 15, 2024, resulted in over 1,400 deaths and thousands of injuries — making it one of the bloodiest episodes in Bangladesh’s recent history. The trial has sharply divided public opinion, with some viewing it as a step toward accountability, while others see it as politically motivated.
