Sheikh Hasina’s arrest warrant was issued following her August escape to India, by a court in Bangladesh.Before that, Hasina served Bangladesh as its prime minister. The mass demonstrations against violations of human rights drove her from her nation. The violent protests killed hundreds, and the International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) in Bangladesh charged her with crimes against humanity.
For twenty years, Hasina ruled Bangladesh with an iron fist, repressing any forms of dissent. The court has issued arrest warrants for 45 people, including Hasina and numerous exiled government officials. The ICT’s top prosecutor, Mohammad Tajul Islam, announced that authorities ordered Hasina to appear in court by November 18, and they are currently pending her detention. Sheikh Hasina led July and August atrocities, executions, and crimes against humanity.
The interim health ministry of Bangladesh estimated that over 1,000 people died in student-led protests against government employment quotas throughout the summer. Among the worst times for Bangladesh since its independence in 1971. Authorities last spotted Hasina at a military base in New Delhi after she escaped from Bangladesh. She had hoped to stay in India for a while but could not secure refuge despite her best efforts.
Due to her ongoing stay in India, the new interim government in Dhaka finds it challenging to collaborate with Delhi. The interim government withdrew Hasina’s diplomatic passport, but a bilateral extradition deal means she may be able to return for prosecution. However, for offenses having a political purpose, the treaty provides for denial of extradition.
In 2010, Hasina’s administration established the ICT to investigate war crimes against Pakistan. While the UN and rights organizations criticized the tribunal’s procedural flaws, Hasina utilized it to pursue her political opponents. Recently, the interim government reconstituted the tribunal, which has just begun operations. Critics argue that the new tribunal lacks judges experienced in international law. Due to Sheikh Hasina’s arrest warrant authorities are now investigating her alleged mass murder of protesters.
