Bangladesh court begins first trial of Hasina-era officials
The court in the capital Dhaka accepted a formal charge against eight police officials in connection to the killing of six protesters on August 5 last year, the day Hasina fled the country as the protesters stormed her palace.
The eight men are charged with crimes against humanity. Four are in custody and four are being tried in absentia.
'The formal trial has begun,' Tajul Islam, chief prosecutor of Bangladesh's domestic International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), told reporters.
'The prosecution believes that this prosecution will be able to prove the crimes done by the accused,' he said.
It is the first formal charge in any case related to the killings during last year's student-led uprising, which ended Hasina's iron-fisted rule of 15 years.
Up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024 when Hasina's government launched a brutal campaign to silence the protesters, according to the United Nations.
The list of those facing trial includes Dhaka's former police commissioner, Habibur Rahman, who is among those being tried in absentia.
Hasina also fled by helicopter to India, her old ally.
She remains in self-imposed exile, defying Dhaka's extradition request to face charges of crimes against humanity.
The launch of the trials of senior figures from Hasina's government is a key demand of several of the political parties now jostling for power as the South Asian nation awaits elections that the interim government has vowed will take place before June 2026.
Islam said the eight men were accused of 'different responsibilities,' including the most senior for 'superior command responsibility, some for direct orders.. (and) some for participation.'
He said he was confident of a successful prosecution.
'We have submitted as much evidence as required to prove crimes against humanity, both at a national and an international standard,' he said.
Among that evidence, he said, was video footage of the violence, as well as voice recordings of Hasina in 'conversations with different people where she ordered the killing of the protesters using force and lethal weapons.'
The ICT was set up by Hasina in 2009 to investigate crimes committed by the Pakistani army during Bangladesh's war for independence in 1971.
It sentenced numerous prominent political opponents to death over the following years and became widely seen as a means for Hasina to eliminate rivals.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Deputy PM calls for modernizing port infrastructure to boost Pakistan trade competitiveness
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has called for modernizing the country's port infrastructure and streamlining the processes to bolster Pakistan's competitiveness in regional and global trade, state media reported on Tuesday. Dar said this at a meeting he presided over in Islamabad to review operations at Pakistani ports and proposals to enhance efficiency, reduce turnaround times and ensure smooth cargo handling. Pakistan is currently making efforts to capitalize on its geostrategic location to boost trade and investment alongside tourism as it slowly recovers from a macroeconomic crisis under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program. 'The meeting covered measures to address port congestion, strengthen trade facilitation, and improve logistics systems to support imports, exports and overall economic activity,' the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported. Officials say the South Asian country plans to cut container dwell time at its seaports by up to 70 percent to improve trade competitiveness and ease congestion. Islamabad last month reduced port charges for exporters by 50 percent at the second largest Port Qasim. Earlier this month, Pakistan granted its first-ever ferry service license to an international operator, Sea Keepers, for routes connecting Pakistan with Iran and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the Pakistani maritime affairs ministry said on Monday. Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry hailed the move as a 'historic step,' aligned with Pakistan's National Maritime Policy, and emphasized the opportunity this license creates for boosting regional connectivity, religious tourism and economic activity via sea routes. 'Initial operations will commence from the ports of Karachi and Gwadar using modern ferry vessels equipped with essential amenities to ensure safe, affordable travel,' Chaudhry was quoted as saying by his ministry. It did not specify a date for the start of operations.
Arab News
4 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan receives over 91,000 Hajj applications, intending pilgrims may apply till Aug. 16
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has received 91,300 Hajj applications under the government scheme, while intending pilgrims may apply for the remaining seats till Aug. 16, the Pakistani religious affairs ministry said on Tuesday. Pakistan has a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims for 2026, with 129,210 seats allocated for the government scheme and the rest for private tour operators. Applications for the remaining more than 37,000 seats under the government scheme can be filed through online portal or branches of 14 designated bank. 'The receiving of Hajj applications will be immediately stopped as soon as the available seats are filled,' the religious affairs ministry said in a statement. Under the government scheme, pilgrims can choose between a long Hajj package (38–42 days) and a short package (20–25 days). The estimated cost of the government Hajj package ranges between Rs1,150,000 and Rs1,250,000 (approximately $4,050 to $4,236). 'It is mandatory to submit the first installment of Rs500,000 or Rs550,000 along with the application according to the package,' the ministry said. 'The second installment of Hajj dues will be collected from November 1.' Saudi Arabia approved the same overall quota for Pakistan in 2025, but a significant portion of the private allocation went unused due to delays by tour operators in meeting payment and registration deadlines, while the government fulfilled its share of over 88,000 pilgrims. Private operators blamed the shortfall on technical issues, including payment processing and communication problems.
Arab News
8 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan welcomes US ‘foreign terrorist organization' designation for Baloch separatist groups
ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: Pakistan on Tuesday welcomed the United States administration's decision to designate the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and its Majeed Brigade faction as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, describing Islamabad's counterterrorism efforts against militant violence as a bulwark that has helped secure global peace and stability. The BLA, which also uses the alias of The Majeed Brigade, is the most prominent of separatist groups in Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan and is home to key China-led infrastructure projects, including a port and a gold-copper mine. The US State Department made the proclamation about the separatist militant outfit a day earlier while citing a list of attacks claimed by its top leaders. In March, the group claimed responsibility for the hijacking of the Jaffar Express train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, killing 31 civilians and security personnel and holding hostage over 300 train passengers. It was also blamed for ramming an explosive-laden vehicle into a school bus in Khuzdar in May, resulting in the deaths of at least eight children along with the bus driver and a conductor. 'BLA/Majeed Brigade is involved in multiple terrorist attacks in Pakistan, including the heinous Jaffer Express terrorist incident and Khuzdar bus attack that resulted in the loss of precious lives,' the foreign office in Islamabad said in a statement. 'Pakistan remains a steadfast bulwark against terrorism," it added. "Our sacrifices have secured critical counter-terrorism successes, not only for the country, but for regional stability and global security.' The BLA has also targeted Chinese nationals working on strategic infrastructure development, industrial, educational and power generation projects in different parts of Pakistan. The State Department quoted Secretary Marco Rubio in a statement as saying the US decision demonstrated Washington's "commitment to countering terrorism." 'Terrorist designations play a critical role in our fight against this scourge and are an effective way to curtail support for terrorist activities,' he added. The US designation of BLA and Majeed Brigade as terrorist entities can be pivotal in restricting financial support and other aid to these groups. The US move comes amid a spike in militant violence in Pakistan's Balochistan, which Islamabad has blamed on India and Afghanistan. New Delhi and Kabul deny the allegation. Pakistan had already proscribed the Majeed Brigade as a terrorist entity in July 2024. The foreign office said the country 'remains unwavering in its resolve to protect its citizens and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations' and 'committed to cooperating with the international community to overcome this common challenge.' Separatist groups operating in the mineral-rich region of Balochistan accuse the central government of exploiting the province's resources to fund development elsewhere in the country. The federal government denies the allegations and says it is working for the uplift of local communities in Balochistan.
