Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, left the country on August 5 due to violence and protests over job reservation issues. She has been in India since then. Now, she faces a murder case in Bangladesh, which is the first legal action against her.
The Case
The case was filed by Amir Hamza, who is a friend of Abu Saeed, a grocery store owner who died during the violence. On July 19, Saeed was killed by police firing during a protest against the reservation system in Mohammadpur. Hamza has accused Sheikh Hasina and six others of being responsible for Saeed’s death.
Accused in the Case
Besides Sheikh Hasina, the case also names:
- Obaidul Quader, General Secretary of the Awami League
- Former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal
- Former Police Chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun
- Former DB Chief Harun Rashid
- Former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman
- Former DMP Joint Commissioner Biplab Kumar Sarkar
Violence and Deaths
Since Sheikh Hasina’s government fell on August 5, violence in Bangladesh has led to the deaths of over 230 people. Total deaths from the violence, which began with protests against quotas in mid-July, have reached 560. Following the government’s fall, an interim government has been formed with Mohammad Yunus, an 84-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner, as the Chief Advisor.
Legal Proceedings
Mamun Mian, a private citizen’s lawyer, said that the court has ordered police to investigate the murder case against Sheikh Hasina and the six others. This is the first step in the legal process under Bangladesh’s criminal investigation laws.
Human Rights Allegations
Sheikh Hasina’s government has been accused not only of murder but also of human rights violations, including the killing of thousands of political opponents.
Impact on India-Bangladesh Relations
A top advisor to the Bangladesh government, Mohammad Touhid Hussain, stated that Sheikh Hasina’s stay in India will not affect relations between India and Bangladesh. He assured that Dhaka will continue to maintain good relations with New Delhi, emphasizing that the interests of the two countries are independent of any single individual.
