Dhaka: Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Sunday pressed formal charges against deposed leader Sheikh Hasina. She is being charged for alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising. ICT prosecutor Gazi Monowar Hossain Tamim, was quoted by the Bangladeshi media as saying that the trial has commenced in the case.
Court proceedings being broadcast live
Reports in the Bangladeshi media claimed that the Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam submitted the complaint to the tribunal. The proceedings of the court are being broadcast live on Bangladesh Television, which is the country’s national broadcaster.
Following the mass uprising led by students in Bangladesh, Hasina faces multiple cases in Bangladesh courts that have so far debarred photography or telecast of trial proceedings against her.However the ICT has broken tradition and allowed the proceedings to be broadcast live. If convicted the former Prime Minister could face the death penalty for the charges brought against her.
On May 12, the investigation agency had submitted its probe report against the former PM. She has been charged with 5 counts of crimes against humanity during the August uprising in the country, against her government. The report also names former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun as the co-accused in the case.
According to the investigation report, Hasina “directly ordered” state security forces, her political party and affiliated groups to conduct operations resulting in mass casualties, during the student-led uprising against her government. Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam, alleged that “the killings were planned”. He cited video evidence and taped conversations between different agencies.
The prosecution listed 81 witnesses in the case against Hasina. They also said that as head of the government at the time, Hasina bears command responsibility for security force operations during the unrest.
Following the violent protest against her government, Sheikh Hasina resigned as PM and left Bangladesh after ruling for 15 years. She fled to India. She and other family members face corruption charges and are accused of handling the August protest with an iron fist. The government crackdown on the protesters reportedly left 1,500 people dead and 25,000 injured.
