Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s fugitive former prime minister, has formally denied charges of crimes against humanity related to her government’s deadly crackdown on protesters in 2024. Through her state-appointed lawyer, Amir Hossain, she rejected all accusations and vowed to seek "discharge from these allegations". Her banned Awami League party dismissed the proceedings as a "show trial".
Prosecutors at Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) allege Hasina orchestrated a "coordinated, widespread and systematic attack" to crush student-led protests. The UN documented up to 1,400 deaths between July–August 2024, with security forces using military rifles and helicopters against demonstrators. Specific charges include abetment, incitement, and failure to prevent mass murder which are all classified as crimes against humanity under Bangladeshi law. Evidence includes video footage, audio recordings, and witness testimonies.
Chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam accused Hasina of obsession with power, citing her alleged demand for public "worship" of her father, Bangladesh’s founding president. Prosecutors linked her directly to three emblematic cases which includes the murder of student activist Abu Sayeed, the killings of six protesters in Dhaka’s Chankharpu and the burning alive of six individuals in Ashulia. Islam argued Hasina "unleashed law enforcement and armed party members" to suppress dissent.
Hasina fled to India in August 2024 after the uprising toppled her 15-year rule. Despite extradition orders, she remains in exile. India has ignored Bangladesh’s requests for her return, straining bilateral relations. Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s interim government banned the Awami League, raising concerns about political repression under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. The trial continues in absentia, with the next session set for June 24.