Following Hasina’s departure, Muhammad Yunus assumed leadership of a transitional government on August 8. Meanwhile, a source said that law enforcement agencies continue to search for remaining suspects, many of whom are believed to be in hiding.
A Bangladeshi court has formally requested that Interpol issue a red notice to arrest former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who faces charges related to mass killing and genocide following the students’ protests, earlier this year. The request was made by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) set up by the government. The ICT has accused Hasina and several of her party colleagues of crimes against humanity linked to the violence that erupted between July and August 2024.
Hasina’s government originally established the International Crimes Tribunal in 2010 to adjudicate grave crimes committed during the war of independence that led to the creation of Bangladesh in 1971. The tribunal has since convicted and sentenced numerous individuals for crimes against humanity.
“We requested the Interpol in a letter through the inspector general of police (IGP) to issue a red alert and measures to arrest former Prime Minister Hasina as she has gone out of Bangladesh jurisdiction,” said Mohammad Tajul Islam, Chief Prosecutor of the ICT, during a press conference in Dhaka on Tuesday. Islam added that the letter was forwarded to the IGP on Sunday, as the police are responsible for communicating such requests.
The charges against Hasina stem from the violent clashes during student-led protests against the government, which resulted in some 775 deaths and over 22,000 injuries, many caused by gunfire from police and Awami League supporters. The tribunal has filed over 60 complaints, accusing Hasina and her party of forced disappearances, murders, and genocide. A warrant for Hasina’s arrest is already pending with the court, and prosecutors have been instructed to ensure her presence by November 18.
Hasina in India
Hasina, who fled to India on August 5 amid the unrest, remains outside Bangladesh’s jurisdiction. The tribunal has also sought arrest warrants for 21 police officials accused of genocide and crimes against humanity, bringing the total number of warrants issued for security personnel and political figures to 45, including Hasina’s family members and top Awami League leaders.
Speaking to the local media earlier, Law Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul affirmed that the government would exhaust all avenues, including through Interpol, to apprehend Hasina and other fugitives. “We will do everything possible to arrest and bring back these individuals, including ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” Nazrul said.
Following Hasina’s departure, Muhammad Yunus assumed leadership of a transitional government on August 8. Meanwhile, a source said that law enforcement agencies continue to search for remaining suspects, many of whom are believed to be in hiding. The court’s push for international cooperation underscores the government’s interest in pursuing Sheikh Hasina.
The tribunal’s investigation has led to mounting calls for accountability, as more than 50 allegations of genocide and crimes against humanity have been filed in connection with the uprising, marking one of the most significant chapters in Bangladesh’s ongoing efforts to address past and present human rights violations.
