A murder investigation has been initiated against Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, following the police killing of a man during recent civil unrest in the capital, Dhaka. The investigation also targets six other high-ranking figures from the previous government after weeks of deadly protests.
The case, brought forward by lawyer Mamun Mia on behalf of a private citizen, was accepted by a Dhaka court, which ordered the police to proceed with the investigation. This marks the first step in a criminal inquiry under Bangladeshi law. The investigation stems from the killing of Abu Saeed, a local grocer, who was shot in the head by police while crossing the road during a protest on July 19.
Businessman Amir Hamza, who is not related to the victim, filed the case, citing the financial inability of Saeed’s family to pursue legal action. “I am the first ordinary citizen who showed the courage to take this legal step against Sheikh Hasina for her crimes. I will see the case to an end,” Hamza said.
The unrest, which claimed the lives of over 400 people, many of whom were students, began in early July as peaceful demonstrations against the civil service job quota system. However, the protests soon escalated into a broader movement aimed at toppling Hasina’s government, which had been in power for 15 years and faced accusations of human rights violations and widespread corruption.
Sheikh Hasina, who resigned and fled to New Delhi, India, earlier this month amid the escalating crisis, had ordered the police to suppress the protests, labeling the demonstrators as “terrorists” intent on destabilising the nation. The former Transport and Bridges Minister, Obaidul Quader, is among those being investigated in connection with the violence.
The new government, led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, includes many of the former protestors and has taken a firm stance against the previous administration’s actions. Sheikh Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, has indicated that his mother will return to Bangladesh when elections are declared.
This investigation marks a significant moment in Bangladesh’s political landscape, with the former leader now under scrutiny for her role in the deadly crackdown that shook the nation.
Melissa Enoch
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