Thousands gather in Dhaka, Bangladesh, demanding the prosecution of Sheikh Hasina, the ousted Prime Minister, due to hundreds of deaths in July’s uprising. The Anti-Discrimination Student movement organized Tuesday’s march for unity at Central Shaheed Minar.
The motive of the protest is to urge a trial for Sheikh Hasina and banning her Awami League Party. Protestors called for justice for the deaths of hundreds and injuries to thousands under Hasina’s orders during the unrest.
After opposition groups boycotted elections, the protest ended her 15-year tenure as Bangladesh’s longest-serving leader. On August 5, Hasina fled to India following weeks of escalating violence, leading Bangladesh to request her extradition formally.
Authorities have charged her with crimes against humanity for protestors’ deaths, issuing warrants through the International Crimes Tribunal. The government also sought Interpol’s assistance to locate and arrest her.
Addressing protestors, student leader Hasnat Abdullah declared, “Our only enemy is the Awami League,” and demanded drastic political reforms. Protestors called for a new constitution replacing the one drafted under Hasina’s father in 1972 and urged the interim government to implement these changes by January 15.
The interim administration, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, pledged justice for those who suffered and asked the United Nations to investigate the violence. The current government has vowed to prosecute Hasina and members of her administration for crimes against the protestors.
From the United States, Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed, diminished the charges as a political witch-hunt, questioning the tribunal’s credibility. Meanwhile, Hasina requested an imperial investigation, arguing other groups might have contributed to the deaths. As protests grow for the prosecution of Sheikh Hasina and international attention mounts, Bangladesh awaits clarity on accountability and the future of its political landscape.
