A murder investigation has been launched against Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina following the police killing of a man during recent civil unrest in Dhaka. The investigation also targets six other high-ranking figures from Hasina’s previous administration.
Sheikh Hasina resigned earlier this month and fled to India amid escalating demands for her resignation. Her resignation followed weeks of deadly student protests, which led to significant violence and calls for accountability. The protests, which initially focused on job quota reforms, grew into a larger movement demanding Hasina’s ouster.
The case against Hasina was initiated by lawyer Mamun Mia on behalf of a private citizen. The court has instructed the police to accept the murder case, marking the start of a criminal investigation under Bangladeshi law. Businessman Amir Hamza, who filed the case after witnessing the killing of a local grocer, Abu Saeed, in July, stated he acted out of concern as Saeed’s family lacked the resources to pursue legal action.
In her first public statement since leaving Bangladesh, Hasina has called for an investigation into the protests and the actions taken against them, demanding that those involved be identified and punished.
The recent protests, which resulted in over 400 deaths, have intensified scrutiny on Hasina’s administration, which faced accusations of human rights violations and corruption during its 15-year rule. Former Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader is also under investigation. The new government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, includes many protestors in its ranks.
Sheikh Hasina’s return to Bangladesh is anticipated once elections are announced, according to her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
