The trial against former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina began in absentia, addressing accusations of crimes against humanity related to her government's crackdown on a student-led uprising. Hasina, who fled to India after being ousted last year, is facing five serious charges, including incitement and responsibility for mass murder. Prosecutors assert that Hasina directed violent actions against protesters during her 15-year rule. Despite the charges, Hasina maintains that the accusations are politically motivated, with her party currently banned. The prosecutor emphasized the impartiality of the trial as a democratic principle.
Upon scrutinising the evidence, we reached the conclusion that it was a coordinated, widespread and systematic attack," ICT chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam told the court in his opening speech. "The accused unleashed all law enforcement agencies and her armed party members to crush the uprising."
The prosecution has listed five charges against Hasina and several other top officials from her government, including 'abetment, incitement, complicity, facilitation, conspiracy, and failure to prevent mass murder during the July uprising.'
Hasina claims the charges against her are politically motivated. Her party, the Awami League, was banned pending the result of the trial.
Islam vowed the trial would be impartial, saying: 'This is not an act of vendetta but a commitment to the principle that, in a democratic country, there is no room for crimes against humanity.'
#sheikh-hasina #bangladesh #crimes-against-humanity #international-crimes-tribunal #political-unrest
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