A court in Bangladesh has opened a murder investigation into ousted ex-PM Sheikh Hasina and six top figures in her administration regarding the police killing of a man during civil unrest last month. The case was filed by Amir Hamza, and it was accepted by Dhaka’s chief metropolitan magistrate’s court after a hearing. The court ordered the police to investigate the case, making it the first case filed against Hasina after a violent uprising that resulted in around 300 deaths.
The accused in the case include Obaidul Quader, the general secretary of Hasina’s Awami League party, former Interior Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and other senior police officials. Hamza alleged that grocer Abu Saeed was killed on July 19 when he was hit by a bullet fired by police during protests against quotas in government jobs in Dhaka. The complainant blamed Hasina for the police firing and claimed that he voluntarily filed the case as Saeed’s family did not have the resources to do so.
Hasina, who has been in India since fleeing Bangladesh on August 5, could not be reached for comment. Bangladeshi student leader Nahid Islam, who played a role in overthrowing Hasina and is now part of the interim government, stated that the former prime minister should face trial for the killings during her term, including those during recent protests. The student-led movement started with demonstrations against quotas in government jobs before escalating into violent protests to remove Hasina from power.
Hasina plans to return to Bangladesh once the caretaker government, led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, decides on holding elections. The case against her and the other accused individuals adds to the political turmoil in the country and raises questions about accountability for actions during her administration. The outcome of the investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings will likely have significant implications for the political landscape in Bangladesh.
