Background: On October 17, 2024, the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) issued an arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, alleging her involvement in mass killings during protests earlier that year. Along with Hasina, 46 other individuals, including senior members of her government, have been implicated. The unrest began as a student-led movement opposing public sector job quotas but escalated into deadly violence, resulting in over 700 deaths and thousands of injuries. Following the violence, Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024, and an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus assumed control of the country. Human Rights Watch, a New York-based NGO, has documented extensive human rights abuses during Hasina’s regime, further supporting the charges against her and her family. Hasina has denied the NGO’s allegations.

The Charges

The arrest warrants accuse Sheikh Hasina of overseeing a violent crackdown on mass protests. Security forces allegedly used excessive force while her supporters carried out violent attacks. These actions reportedly led to massacres, enforced disappearances, and widespread killings, described as crimes against humanity.

The tribunal’s chief prosecutor, Mohammad Tajul Islam, highlighted that the mass killings and abuses occurred during protests against Hasina’s government. Bangladesh’s interim health minister claimed over 1,000 people were killed, with thousands more injured in the unrest.

Legal Proceedings

The tribunal, established in 2010 under Sheikh Hasina’s government to investigate 1971 war crimes, is now probing alleged abuses during the 2024 protests. Over 60 complaints have been filed against Hasina and Awami League leaders, accusing them of enforced disappearances, mass killings, and human rights violations.

The tribunal has ordered Hasina to appear in court by November 18, 2024. However, she is currently in India. The Bangladesh government is reportedly seeking her extradition under an existing treaty with India. The interim government is determined to bring her back within a one-month deadline.

Human Rights Concerns

Human Rights Concerns: Human Rights Watch (HRW) has emphasised the need for critical reforms to guarantee a fair and impartial trial process. The organisation has urged the Bangladesh government to amend the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act to align it with international standards for fair trials. Key recommendations include:

Moratorium on the Death Penalty: HRW recommends imposing a moratorium on the death penalty and moving toward its abolition in line with international human rights law.

Ensuring Due Process

Ensuring Due Process: The trial process must safeguard the due process rights of the accused, including the right to a fair and impartial trial, access to legal representation, and the opportunity to present a defence.

Constitutional Protections

HRW has urged the repeal of Article 47(A) of Bangladesh’s Constitution, which limits constitutional protections for the accused. Repealing it would restore the right to enforce fundamental constitutional rights.

Witness and Victim Protection

A well-resourced witness protection program should ensure the safety of individuals who testify in court, particularly those testifying against influential political figures or security forces.

Political Party Reforms

While the interim government has proposed a ban on political organisations found to have committed or aided crimes against humanity, HRW warns that a blanket ban on political parties undermines the right to free association and may be misused for political purposes. The organisation advocates for a more targeted approach that holds individuals accountable for their actions rather than punishing entire political entities.

International Support and Extradition

The Bangladesh government has clearly stated its intention to seek Hasina’s extradition from India under the bilateral extradition treaty. The interim government’s de facto foreign minister, Mohammad Touhid Hossain, expressed hope that Hasina could return within the one-month deadline. However, it remains uncertain whether India will comply with this request, and Bangladesh may also seek Interpol’s assistance to secure Hasina’s return.

Public Response

Many senior leaders of Hasina’s Awami League have either been arrested or gone into hiding, making it difficult for the media to obtain comments from the party. However, Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed (Joy), publicly declared that his mother is willing to face trial in Bangladesh, asserting her innocence and denying wrongdoing.

Conclusion

The legal proceedings against Sheikh Hasina, involving accusations of crimes against humanity, have drawn significant attention both internationally and domestically. As Bangladesh’s legal and political landscape shifts, ensuring the judicial process remains fair, transparent, and aligned with international human rights standards is vital. The interim government must balance its efforts to reform the tribunal and uphold accountability by protecting the accused’s rights and preventing political interference in the justice system.

Family Members’ Crime:

Tulip Siddiq:

The Bangladesh government has filed a criminal case against UK Treasury Minister Tulip Siddiq, accusing her of misusing her position as an MP to gain influence and illegally acquire land with her aunt, the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Siddiq has faced mounting calls to resign over her links to Hasina, who was overthrown in August following mass protests across Bangladesh and is facing charges of corruption and crimes against humanity.

Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against Hasina and her wider family over an alleged large-scale land grab involving lucrative plots in a suburb of the capital, Dhaka. The case names the former prime minister, as well as Siddiq.

“Sheikh Hasina, in collaboration with some officials, allocated plots for herself and her family members,” said ACC Director General Akhter Hossain. “The ACC investigation team has obtained the necessary documents and found sufficient evidence to file the cases.”

Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, is also named, along with Hasina’s sister, Sheikh Rehana, who is Siddiq’s mother.

This month, Siddiq referred herself to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s standards adviser after reports in The Sunday Times and Financial Times revealed she had lived in properties linked to Hasina’s administration.

Bangladesh’s ACC also launched an investigation in December into Hasina’s family’s alleged embezzlement of $5 billion, related to a Russian-funded nuclear power plant. The kickback allegations concern the $12.65 billion Rooppur nuclear plant, financed by Moscow with a 90% loan.

Siddiq reportedly lived in a north London property given to her family in 2009 by Moin Ghani, a Bangladeshi lawyer representing Hasina’s government, according to documents filed with Companies House and the Land Registry, as cited by Reuters.

She also acquired a separate property in London in 2004 without paying for it, from a developer linked to the Awami League, Hasina’s political party, as reported by the Financial Times this month.

The 42-year-old previously held the portfolio for financial services policy, which included responsibility for anti-money laundering measures.

Sajeeb Wazed Joy:

The ACC has filed cases against Hasina, Joy, Hasina’s sister Sheikh Rehana, her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, her nephew Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, and niece Azmina Siddiq Ruponti.

A Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe has found that deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed, owns eight luxurious cars and is involved in five companies.

The FBI probe also uncovered that Hasina and Sajeeb laundered $300 million to the United States and the United Kingdom.

The US intelligence agency reported significant irregularities in Sajeeb’s financial activities. Based on the FBI findings, the ACC in Bangladesh initiated an inquiry into the alleged $300 million laundering scheme. ACC officials also obtained the FBI report, submitted to the assistant attorney general for the US Department of Justice criminal division on April 23, 2023.

According to the FBI, Sajeeb owns eight luxurious vehicles, including a 2018 McLaren 720S worth $250,578, a 2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT worth $109,806, and other high-value cars. The report details suspicious money transfers to Washington DC, New York, and London through a local money exchange company.

The FBI has contacted its UK counterparts to investigate Sajeeb’s suspicious activities further. The report suggests these findings raised concerns about potential illicit activities and warranted further investigation.

The FBI also identified Sajeeb’s involvement in five companies: Wazed Consulting Inc., Ecom Systems Inc., Mvion Inc., and Intelligent Trade Systems Ltd.

After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 amid a student-led mass uprising, the ACC began probes into allegations of corruption against Hasina, her son, and other family members.

An inquiry team from the commission, led by its deputy director, Md Salauddin, has initiated the investigation and sent letters to various government agencies seeking the necessary information.

On Monday, a team member told New Age they had sent letters to multiple offices, including the Secretary of the Chief Adviser’s Office, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit, the Passport Office, and the Election Commission.

It has been widely reported that Sheikh Hasina and her entire family are involved in various corrupt activities, including money laundering, power struggles, looting, and even genocide. Remarkably, India is the only country that consistently supports the corruption of Hasina and her family despite India’s significant corruption challenges.

Summary of the report:

On October 17, 2024, the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal issued an arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accusing her of crimes against humanity linked to violent crackdowns on protests earlier that year. The student-led demonstrations, initially opposing job quotas, escalated into unrest, leaving over 700 dead. Hasina fled to India amid these allegations, and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus leads the interim government.

The charges include enforced disappearances, massacres, and corruption, with Human Rights Watch calling for reforms to ensure fair trials. Accusations also extend to Hasina’s family, including her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and niece Tulip Siddiq, citing corruption, money laundering, and land-grabbing activities. An FBI investigation linked Sajeeb to suspicious financial dealings and luxury assets abroad.

Bangladesh seeks Hasina’s extradition under a bilateral treaty as global attention mounts on the fairness of legal proceedings and the broader implications for justice and governance in Bangladesh.

Furthermore, India has strained relations with many neighbouring countries due to internal issues. The head of Bangladesh’s interim government, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has demanded that India send Hasina back to face trial in Bangladesh for crimes against protesters and her opponents during her tenure over the past 15 years.