Historic trial against former prime minister: Hasina is now an accused

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal have been issued international arrest warrants for alleged human rights violations committed during the crackdown on mass protests in Bangladesh in July and August 2024.

The protests began as the country's largest student movement. Students and citizens, mainly in the public sector, took to the streets to demand the abolition of a quota system that allocated one-third of public sector jobs to relatives of those who fought in the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. However, what began as a peaceful movement quickly turned into nationwide protests that spread to all major cities in the country.

The government resorted to a brutal crackdown on the protests, resulting in weeks of clashes that left more than a thousand people dead and thousands more injured, according to official figures from the Ministry of Health. These events have received widespread international attention and have been severely criticized by international human rights organizations.

The prosecutors allege that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Interior Minister Khan Kamal personally gave direct instructions to security forces and members of the People's League party to brutally suppress the protests. Former Inspector General of Police Abdullah Al-Mamun has also been charged against them, who is also said to be responsible as one of the main organizers of these human rights violations.

The prosecution has also submitted to the court a list of 81 people who participated in these serious crimes and are ready to testify. During the trial, the testimony of these witnesses will allow for a deeper study of the consequences of this case. According to experts, the trial is likely to last for several months.

The public and the international community are following this trial with great interest. Because this process is being carried out through the International Criminal Tribunal, which was established by Sheikh Hasina herself in 2009. At that time, she aimed to investigate war crimes in 1971. Now, Hasina herself is being tried in this very tribunal on charges of human rights violations.

In August 2024, when unrest in the country escalated, Sheikh Hasina was forced to resign and fled the country to India. Her departure from the country also caused great public protests.

After landing in India, Hasina was granted asylum and has not been seen in public since then. She was last seen boarding a helicopter at an air base near the Indian capital.

In order to fill the political vacuum in the country after these events, world-famous economist Muhammad Yunus announced that he was returning to the country. Yunus won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his microcredit program for the poor. He was sworn in as the country's interim leader and is currently leading the country until new elections.

International human rights activists are closely following these proceedings. They are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the trial. If Hasina and her co-accused are convicted, it could be the largest political trial in Bangladesh's history.

The outcome of this trial will have significant implications not only for Bangladesh but also for the political situation in South Asia. While the public and the international community are closely following these proceedings, questions about what justice will be for Sheikh Hasina and her future fate await answers.

The next trial is scheduled for June 16, when key witnesses will testify. The outcome of these proceedings could pave the way for a new political era in Bangladesh.