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France 24
03-08-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Bangladesh protest victim gives evidence at ex-PM trial
Hasina, 77, who has defied court orders to return from India to attend her trial on charges amounting to crimes against humanity, is accused of ordering a deadly crackdown in a failed bid to crush the student-led uprising. Up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024, according to the United Nations. The first witness, among the 11 cases that the prosecution is expected to present to the court, was Khokon Chandra Barman, whose story reflects the violence of the protests. The 23-year-old wears a mask to conceal his face, which was ripped apart by gunshot during the culmination of the protests on August 5, 2024, the same day that Hasina fled Dhaka by helicopter. "I want justice for the ordeal I've been going through, and for my fellow protesters who sacrificed their lives," he told the court. Barman lost his left eye, while his right eye was damaged, as well as his lips, nose and teeth. A video showing Barman's blood-covered face was played in court, with the opening statements aired on the state-run broadcaster. Prosecutors have filed five charges against Hasina -- including failure to prevent mass murder -- which amount to crimes against humanity under Bangladeshi law. "Sheikh Hasina was the nucleus around whom all the crimes committed during the July–August uprising revolved," chief prosecutor Tajul Islam told the court on Sunday. Hasina is on trial in absentia alongside two other accused. One, her former interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, is also a fugitive. The other, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, the former inspector general of police, is in custody. He has pleaded guilty. Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman said he wanted a "fair trial", speaking to reporters outside the court. "People were killed and maimed -- we demand the highest punishment for the crimes committed," Asaduzzaman said. Amir Hossain, the state-appointed lawyer for Hasina, noted that Barman was shot during the chaotic final day of the weeks-long protests. He pointed out that several police officers were also killed in clashes with protesters and it was "unclear who actually shot Barman". Hossain said he was not in contact with Hasina, who has refused to accept the authority of the court. The trial continues. © 2025 AFP
Scroll.in
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Rush Hour: SC asks EC to consider Aadhaar for voter roll revision, Sheikh Hasina indicted and more
We're building a brand-new studio to bring you bold ground reports, sharp interviews, hard-hitting podcasts, explainers and more. The Election Commission should consider Aadhaar cards, voter ID cards and ration cards as proof for the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, the Supreme Court has said. It noted that the list of 11 documents that the poll panel had said could be submitted as proof of citizenship was not exhaustive. The court was hearing petitions against the Election Commission's decision to carry out a special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections, which are expected to take place in October or November. The matter has been posted for further hearing on July 28. The revision was announced by the Election Commission on June 24. As part of the exercise, persons whose names were not on the 2003 voter list will need to submit proof of eligibility to vote. This means that 2.9 crore out of the state's 7.8 crore voters – or about 37% of the electors – will have to submit documentary evidence to be included on the electoral rolls. Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal framed charges against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two others in a case relating to alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July 2024 protests. Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, the home minister at the time of the protests, and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun were the other two charged. The tribunal will hear the prosecution's arguments on August 3 and August 4. Hasina had resigned as the prime minister and fled to India on August 5, 2024, after several weeks of widespread student-led protests against her government. She had been in power for 16 years. On June 1, the tribunal had taken cognisance of the charges against her. She has been charged with having instigated mass killings during the protests. Read on The Enforcement Directorate has filed a money laundering case against 29 persons, including actors Prakash Raj and Vijay Deverakonda, for allegedly promoting illegal online betting applications. An Enforcement Case Information Report was registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, following five cases filed by the Telangana Police and Andhra Pradesh Police. The persons accused in the matter are suspected to have received endorsement fees for allegedly promoting the betting applications. Online betting and gambling are illegal in India. Read on At least 85 persons have died in rain-related incidents since the onset of the monsoon in Himachal Pradesh on June 20. Thirty-four persons were missing and 129 have been injured. In neighbouring Uttarakhand, 22 persons have died and 11 injured in rain-related incidents. Over 140 house have been damaged and several families displaced due to the weather. More than 130 roads, including highways, remain blocked. In Delhi, the India Meteorological Department issued an orange alert as heavy rainfall continued to lash parts of the National Capital Region, causing severe waterlogging and traffic disruptions.
Al Jazeera
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Bangladesh tribunal indicts ex-PM Hasina over protester deaths
Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has indicted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two senior officials over alleged crimes against humanity linked to a deadly crackdown on protesters during last year's July uprising. The tribunal, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder and comprising justices Shafiul Alam Masud and Mohitul Enam Chowdhury, formally charged Hasina on Thursday. Proceedings will begin on August 3 with opening statements, followed by the first witness testimony. Hasina, who fled to India following a student-led uprising last August, had been facing several charges. Earlier this month, in a separate ruling, she was sentenced to six months in prison for contempt of court by the ICT. That had marked the first time she had received a formal sentence in any of the cases. Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam said that the sentence delivered in absentia will take effect if Hasina is arrested or voluntarily returns to Bangladesh. The two other accused on Thursday are former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah al-Mamun. While al-Mamun appeared before the court and remains in custody, both Hasina and Kamal have fled abroad. The charges stem from Hasina's now ousted government's violent response to mass demonstrations, which critics say resulted in widespread human rights abuses and hundreds of deaths. Hasina, who now lives in self-imposed exile in India after being deposed following a 15-year rule, has dismissed the tribunal as politically motivated.
The Independent
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Ousted Bangladesh leader's defence lawyer removed over social media post demanding her execution
Bangladesh's international crimes tribunal has removed a state-appointed lawyer for ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina for allegedly demanding her execution. Ms Hasina has been charged with crimes against humanity for her alleged role in the killings of protesters during last year's anti-government protests. She is also facing a contempt of court trial before the tribunal. The tribunal sacked Dhaka-based lawyer Aminul Gani Titu as state defence counsel for Ms Hasina shortly after appointing him to defend the fugitive prime minister. The tribunal said Mr Titu had been removed to "avoid conflict of interest' and to "ensure justice", New Age reported. He was replaced with Amir Hossain to represent Ms Hasina and her federal home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. The decision came after Ms Hasina's son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, pointed out that Mr Titu in a Facebook post last year had demanded a death sentence for the former leader. The interim administration headed by Muhammad Yunus"has appointed a lawyer on my mother's behalf" who "himself has demanded the death penalty for my mother on social media", Mr Wazed Joy said on Facebook last week. "This is not a trial. It is a cold-blooded preparation for a farce called a trial where the judicial system is being used as a weapon. I condemn this ridiculous farce of judicial activities.' During Wednesday's proceedings in the contempt case, the tribunal asked Mr Titu whether he had sought the former leader's execution. The lawyer admitted to making the Facebook post last August when the protests against Ms Hasina were raging in the country. The post called for Ms Hasina to be hanged. Mr Titu reportedly told the tribunal the post only reflected his personal opinion and that it would not influence his job. Ms Hasina fled by helicopter to neighbouring India after a student-led protest turned into an anti-government agitation and ended her 15-year authoritarian rule in the South Asian country. She continues to live in Delhi, close to the corridors of power in the Indian capital, evading an extradition bid, while her party members are in Bangladeshi prisons. According to a UN estimate, nearly 1,400 people were killed during the protests between July and August last year after Ms Hasina's Awami League government launched a crackdown on demonstrators in the capital Dhaka. The tribunal found that Ms Hasina 'directly ordered' security forces, her party and affiliated groups to launch operations which resulted in mass casualties. "Upon scrutinising the evidence, we reached the conclusion that it was a coordinated, widespread and systematic attack," Mohammad Tajul Islam, the tribunal's chief prosecutor, said. "The accused unleashed all law enforcement agencies and her armed party members to crush the uprising.' Mr Islam had filed charges against Ms Hasina and two of her officials, who were also charged with "abetment, incitement, complicity, facilitation, conspiracy, and failure to prevent mass murder during the July uprising". Prosecutors argued that Ms Hasina, as head of the government, was responsible for the security operations during the unrest. The tribunal last October issued an arrest warrant for the former prime minister as well as 45 of her ministers, advisors, and military and civil officials.
Free Malaysia Today
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Bangladesh orders fugitive ex-leader to return to face trial
Sheikh Hasina has defied an extradition order to return to Bangladesh. (AFP pic) DHAKA : Bangladesh's war crimes court ordered fugitive ex-leader Sheikh Hasina today to return to face trial on charges amounting to crimes against humanity. Hasina, 77, fled Dhaka by helicopter to India in August 2024 at the culmination of a student-led mass uprising. She has defied an extradition order to return to Bangladesh. Up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024 when Hasina's government launched a crackdown in a failed bid to cling to power, according to the United Nations. Hasina and former senior figures connected to her ousted government and her now-banned party, the Awami League, are being prosecuted in Bangladesh's international crimes tribunal (ICT). Prosecutors have filed five charges against Hasina, including abetment, incitement, complicity, facilitation, conspiracy and failure to prevent mass murder – charges that amount to crimes against humanity under Bangladeshi law. 'The court directed the prosecution team to issue a notice as soon as possible summoning them to appear before the court,' chief prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam said today. The trial will resume on June 24 without her if she fails to return. The prosecution argues that Hasina ordered security forces, through directives from the interior ministry and police, to crush the protests. Hasina is on trial with two other officials. One of them, former interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who faces similar charges, is also a fugitive. The second, ex-police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, is in custody and was in court today. The prosecution of senior figures from Hasina's government is a key demand of several of the political parties now jostling for power. The interim government has said it will hold elections in April 2026, although some parties are pushing for an earlier vote.
