Bangladesh Court Orders Arrest of Ex-PM Sheikh Hasina and 45 Others Over Mass Killings in Student Protests

Oct 17, 2024, 09:23 AM

A Bangladesh court has issued arrest warrants for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 49 others, including senior Awami League leaders, politicians, journalists, and police officers, on charges of crimes against humanity. The International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh, a three-member panel established by Hasina 15 years ago to prosecute collaborators of the Pakistan Army for the 1971 genocide, issued the warrants in connection with alleged mass killings during recent anti-government, student-led protests. The protests, which occurred in July and August, led to hundreds of deaths and ultimately resulted in Hasina being removed from power in August and fleeing to India. India's Foreign Ministry confirmed that Hasina is currently in India for safety reasons.