Bangladesh court orders murder probe into ousted former leader Sheikh Hasina
A court in Bangladesh has ordered an investigation into former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s alleged role in the police killing of a man during the deadly protests that led to her ouster, state media reported Tuesday.
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Faces Murder Investigation Amidst Protests
A Dhaka court has ordered an investigation into former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's alleged role in the police killing of a man during the deadly protests that led to her ouster. The complaint, filed on Tuesday, accuses Hasina and other top officials of the death of a grocery store owner on July 19.
This marks the first legal case against Hasina following her controversial crackdown on nationwide protests against government employment quotas. The protests, which erupted last month, resulted in the deaths of around 300 people, including at least 32 children, according to local media and UN agencies.
The murder case names Hasina, her former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, the general secretary of her party, and four former top police officers.
In her first public statement since fleeing to India, Hasina called for an investigation into the "heinous killings and acts of sabotage" during the protests, while neglecting to mention the murder case against her. She blamed opposition forces for the violence, claiming acts of "sabotage, arson, and violence" had resulted in "many innocent citizens of our country losing their lives."
The protests, initially focused on the government's quota system reserving 30% of civil service posts for veterans' relatives, quickly transformed into a nationwide movement seeking Hasina's removal. Her government's violent response further fueled the unrest, despite the eventual rollback of the quota system.
The escalating protests saw Hasina impose internet blocks and an indefinite curfew across the country. Ultimately, she fled to neighboring India, ending her 15-year rule. Her departure sparked celebrations in Dhaka, with crowds storming her official residence and looting its contents.
Parliament has been dissolved, and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus now leads a caretaker government, with elections scheduled within 90 days.
The investigation into Hasina's alleged role in the killing is likely to further complicate the political landscape in Bangladesh as the country prepares for elections.
A Dhaka court has ordered an investigation into former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's alleged role in the police killing of a man during the deadly protests that led to her ouster. The complaint, filed on Tuesday, accuses Hasina and other top officials of the death of a grocery store owner on July 19.
This marks the first legal case against Hasina following her controversial crackdown on nationwide protests against government employment quotas. The protests, which erupted last month, resulted in the deaths of around 300 people, including at least 32 children, according to local media and UN agencies.
The murder case names Hasina, her former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, the general secretary of her party, and four former top police officers.
In her first public statement since fleeing to India, Hasina called for an investigation into the "heinous killings and acts of sabotage" during the protests, while neglecting to mention the murder case against her. She blamed opposition forces for the violence, claiming acts of "sabotage, arson, and violence" had resulted in "many innocent citizens of our country losing their lives."
The protests, initially focused on the government's quota system reserving 30% of civil service posts for veterans' relatives, quickly transformed into a nationwide movement seeking Hasina's removal. Her government's violent response further fueled the unrest, despite the eventual rollback of the quota system.
The escalating protests saw Hasina impose internet blocks and an indefinite curfew across the country. Ultimately, she fled to neighboring India, ending her 15-year rule. Her departure sparked celebrations in Dhaka, with crowds storming her official residence and looting its contents.
Parliament has been dissolved, and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus now leads a caretaker government, with elections scheduled within 90 days.
The investigation into Hasina's alleged role in the killing is likely to further complicate the political landscape in Bangladesh as the country prepares for elections.