Bangladesh’s domestic International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has commenced the first trial involving senior officials of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s reckoning with its recent political turmoil.
On Sunday, the special court in Dhaka formally accepted charges against eight senior police officers accused of crimes against humanity in connection with the killing of six protesters on August 5, 2024. The incident occurred as anti-government demonstrators stormed Hasina’s palace, prompting her dramatic escape from the country via helicopter to India.
According to Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam, four of the accused are in custody while the remaining four, including former Dhaka police commissioner Habibur Rahman, are being tried in absentia. Islam emphasized the gravity of the charges, stating the accused had varying levels of involvement from direct participation to issuing lethal orders and bearing superior command responsibility.
“We have submitted as much evidence as required to prove crimes against humanity, both at a national and an international standard,” said Islam. He confirmed that the prosecution possesses video footage and voice recordings purportedly of Hasina ordering violent crackdowns against protesters.
This trial is the first judicial action addressing the violent suppression of the 2024 student-led uprising that toppled Hasina’s 15-year rule. The United Nations estimates that up to 1,400 people were killed during a brutal two-month crackdown by Hasina’s regime.
Sheikh Hasina, now in self-imposed exile in India, has refused to respond to Bangladesh’s extradition requests. Her refusal further complicates efforts to hold her accountable for alleged human rights abuses committed during her tenure.
Ironically, the ICT itself was originally established by Hasina in 2009 to prosecute war crimes from the 1971 independence conflict. Critics long accused her of using the tribunal to sideline political opponents. Now, the same institution is being used to scrutinize her own administration’s alleged abuses.
With national elections scheduled before June 2026, the trial is a focal point for political groups demanding justice and accountability. As Bangladesh navigates a fragile transitional period, the outcome of this landmark case could significantly shape the country’s political future.
