Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal recently issued an arrest warrant for former prime minister Sheikh Hasina due to her alleged involvement in mass killings during violent protests earlier this year. The protests, which began as a movement against public sector job quotas, turned into the deadliest unrest since the country gained independence in 1971, resulting in over 700 deaths and numerous injuries.
This wave of violence led Hasina to flee to India on August 5, prompting an interim government under Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus to take charge. The tribunal, led by justice Golam Mortuza Majumdar, saw prosecutors request arrest warrants for 50 individuals, including Hasina.
Chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam emphasized the importance of arresting influential figures to ensure a thorough investigation. The developments surrounding Hasina’s alleged involvement in the mass killings have raised significant concerns in Bangladesh’s political landscape.