Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Sunday (August 3, 2025) commenced the trial of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in absentia over crimes against humanity related to the violent suppression of the 2024 student-led protests.
The interim government-appointed Chief Prosecutor, Tajul Islam, in his opening statement, described Ms. Hasina as the "nucleus of all crimes" and called for the maximum penalty.
Fugitive Bangladesh ex-PM Sheikh Hasina denies crimes against humanity charges
The prosecution also named Ms. Hasina's two top aides — former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullaah Al Mamun — as the co-accused in the case.
The ICT commenced the proceedings against Ms. Hasina on several charges, with the major one being killings and tortures to tame last year’s Students Against Discrimination (SAD)-led violent street campaign that eventually toppled her Awami League government on August 5, 2024.
