A special court in Bangladesh has issued arrest warrants for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 45 others, including her close aides, on charges of crimes against humanity, The Associated Press reports.
The charges stem from a student-led uprising in July and August that led to Hasina’s flight to India.
The Dhaka-based International Crimes Tribunal, headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who is currently leading Bangladesh’s interim government, issued the warrants following two petitions submitted by the prosecution. Prosecutor B.M. Sultan Mahmud confirmed the development, stating that the tribunal’s chief judge, Golam Mortuza Majumdar, issued the orders in the presence of other judges.
The prosecution alleges that Hasina, her aides, and security agencies were responsible for the deaths of protesters and others during the violent demonstrations. The protests, which erupted over government job quotas, saw hundreds of people killed. Hasina fled to India on August 5 after weeks of escalating unrest.
It remains unclear whether India will comply with any extradition request from Bangladesh regarding Hasina. The two countries have a mutual treaty in place. Muhammad Tajul Islam, the tribunal’s chief prosecutor, previously indicated that they would seek Interpol’s assistance if necessary to secure Hasina’s return.
The Yunus-led interim government has vowed to hold Hasina and members of her administration accountable for alleged crimes related to the uprising. The government has also invited the United Nations to assist in investigating the killings. Hasina, in her own statements, has called for an investigation while expressing concern over the deaths, suggesting that they might involve individuals beyond security agencies.
