Sheikh Hasina Faces Arrest Warrant
The International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh has issued arrest warrants against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 45 others, including Awami League leaders, over charges related to the Quota Reform Movement. The tribunal’s decision marks a significant turning point in Bangladesh’s political landscape, with implications for the future of its governance.
In what can only be described as a political turn of the screw, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, and 45 others—including the Awami League’s General Secretary, Obaidul Quader—are now facing arrest warrants. The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has ordered their arrest by the 18th of November, compelling investigators to present them in court. If this sounds like something out of a high-stakes thriller, that’s because the stakes are indeed sky-high.
The ICT’s recent move stems from two cases related to “genocide and crimes against humanity” during the Quota Reform Movement. One case was filed by Mohammad Sanaullah, the father of Mohammad Mehedi, a student tragically killed in the protests. The other came from Mohammad Bulbul Kabir, father of Arif Ahmed Siam, another student leader who lost his life during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. These cases have now thrown a net over not just Hasina, but several members of her government, the Awami League, and other government officials. It seems that the echoes of past actions have come back to haunt the corridors of power in Bangladesh.
As reported by Prothom Alo, during Thursday’s hearing, the ICT’s chief prosecutor, lawyer Mohammad Tajul Islam, stated that these alleged crimes occurred on a large scale throughout Bangladesh. He argued before the court that the accused are “extremely influential individuals” whose arrest is necessary to ensure that the investigation proceeds unimpeded. His argument clearly struck a chord with the tribunal’s panel, including Justice Golam Mortuza Majumdar, who presided over the case, and fellow justices Mohammad Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired district judge Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.
In a move that surprised many, Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister on the 5th of August, following mass protests in Dhaka. She fled to India soon after. With an interim government now led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, allegations of police brutality under Hasina’s rule have been gaining traction. Nurojahan Begum, the interim government’s health advisor, claimed that over a thousand civilians lost their lives in July and August alone, as a result of state-backed violence. Needless to say, whispers of genocide have now grown into full-blown accusations.
The ICT’s actions today are no bolt from the blue. By early September, pressure was mounting to take legal steps against Hasina and her associates. Mohammed Tawhid Hossain, the interim government’s foreign affairs advisor, made it clear that they were determined to bring Hasina back to Bangladesh to face justice, for the sake of a fair trial.
The irony here is stark. Sheikh Hasina herself established the ICT in 2010 during her tenure, with the purpose of prosecuting those responsible for war crimes committed during the 1971 Liberation War. The tribunal has since seen multiple convictions, with some defendants sentenced to death, while others have been given long prison terms. Now, the woman who initiated these trials finds herself at the receiving end of the same judicial hammer.
It is said that history often repeats itself, first as tragedy, then as farce. Whether Sheikh Hasina’s fall from grace is a case of poetic justice or a political witch hunt remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that Bangladesh’s political landscape is being redrawn—and not with soft strokes.
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