A war crimes tribunal in Bangladesh has formally ordered former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to return from exile to stand trial for crimes against humanity. The court directed prosecutors to issue an immediate summons for the 77-year-old, who fled to India in August 2024 after a student-led uprising toppled her 15-year government. If she fails to appear by June 24, the trial will proceed in absentia.
Prosecutors allege Hasina orchestrated a "coordinated, widespread, and systematic attack" on protesters during the July-August 2024 demonstrations. The crackdown killed up to 1,400 people, according to UN estimates. She faces five specific charges, including conspiracy, incitement, and failure to prevent mass murder—all classified as crimes against humanity under Bangladeshi law. The prosecution asserts she directed security forces via the interior ministry and police to violently suppress dissent
As protesters stormed her residence in Dhaka on August 5, 2024, Hasina evacuated via a covert military helicopter operation. Her aircraft deactivated transponders to evade detection, later landing at India’s Hindon Air Force Base near Delhi. Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman acknowledged her life was at risk had she remained. India granted her refuge, straining bilateral relations with Bangladesh, which revoked her diplomatic passport and seeks extradition under a bilateral treaty. India may refuse, citing the "political character" of the charges.
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), originally established by Hasina in 2009 to prosecute 1971 war crimes, has been reconstituted by Bangladesh’s interim government. Critics note its lack of international law expertise and history of targeting political opponents. Two co-accused—former Interior Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal (a fugitive) and ex-police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun (in custody)—face parallel charges. Mamun recently appeared in court, while other associates, including advisor Salman F. Rahman, are jailed on related murder charges.
The prosecution is a core demand of parties vying for influence under the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. While elections are scheduled for April 2026, pressure mounts for an earlier vote. Hasina’s Awami League remains banned, and her legacy is under scrutiny: statues of her father, independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, were destroyed during the uprising.