The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) of Bangladesh, founded by Hasina herself, filed two warrants against the former PM and others over alleged enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has issued an arrest warrant against ousted former Prime Minister and 10 others, including her former Defence Adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique and former IGP Benazir Ahmed over alleged enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
The tribunal, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumdar, issued the orders after the prosecution filed two petitions seeking the arrest of these 11 individuals. The tribunal ordered authorities to arrest and produce Sheikh Hasina and the others before February 12.
Last year, the tribunal issued arrest warrants against Sheikh Hasina and 45 others in connection with alleged crimes against humanity during the student-led agitation that culminated in her ouster, where over 500 people were killed. Hasina fled to India after fleeing from Dhaka and has been residing here since.
Relations between India and Bangladesh have been in free fall since Hasina’s ouster and the entry of Nobel laureate Muhammed Yunus as the country’s chief adviser, particularly over a surge of attacks on Hindu minorities. The interim government in Bangladesh has promised to extradite Hasina and even sent a diplomatic note to India over the matter.
Hasina has reportedly been living in safehouses in India since August, while frequently shifting locations for safety depending on the advice of the government. The leader in political exile, however, has been continuing to issue occasional statements on Bangladesh’s political situation through her party – Awami League – social media machinery or through her son Sajeeb Wazed.
The Ministry of External Affairs, while acknowledging the receipt of the extradition request from Bangladesh, stated that the government had ‘no comment to offer’. In a televised address to the nation on his first 100 days in office, Yunus said that the interim government will try those responsible including the former PM for hundreds of deaths during the student-led uprising that ended her 15-year rule.
“We will seek the return of the fallen autocrat Sheikh Hasina from India,” he said. Yunus said Hasina’s role would be investigated not only in the deaths during the unrest but also in other violations of human rights, including alleged enforced disappearances while she was in power.
Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, is currently facing significant legal challenges following her ousting in August 2024. The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) of Bangladesh has issued multiple arrest warrants against her, citing serious allegations including crimes against humanity and enforced disappearances during her tenure.
In August 2024, mass protests led by students culminated in Hasina’s departure to India. Subsequently, the ICT initiated investigations into her administration’s actions during the unrest. On October 17, 2024, the tribunal issued its first arrest warrant, accusing Hasina of orchestrating violent crackdowns that resulted in numerous deaths.
A second arrest warrant was issued on January 6, 2025, focusing on allegations of enforced disappearances during her 15-year rule. The tribunal asserts that security forces under her command abducted and detained individuals in secret facilities.
The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has formally requested India’s cooperation in extraditing Hasina to face these charges. While India has acknowledged the request, it has not yet responded definitively.
Hasina’s family, including her son Sajeeb Wazed, contends that the charges are politically motivated. Wazed has labeled the tribunal’s actions as a “political witch hunt,” alleging that the current administration is engaging in extrajudicial killings and unlawful imprisonments
Human rights organizations have expressed concerns regarding the fairness of the proceedings and the potential application of capital punishment. Human Rights Watch has recommended that Bangladesh amend its laws to abolish the death penalty to ensure a fair trial, cautioning foreign governments against extradition without these guarantees
The situation remains dynamic, with significant implications for Bangladesh’s political landscape and its diplomatic relations, particularly with India.
