Sheikh Hasina Facing War Crimes Probe For Mass Murder Allegations: How Serious Is It?

A tribunal, which was established by the ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to investigate war crimes in Bangladesh, has initiated three probes into alleged mass murder charges against her, as reported by AFP on Monday.

The tribunal, investigating the violence that led to Hasina's departure from Bangladesh, has centred on the unrest that resulted in over 450 deaths, many of which were caused by police fire during a month of student-led protests.

Photo Credit: PTI

Sheikh Hasina Facing War Crimes Probe - How Serious It Is?

Sheikh Hasina resigned from her position as prime minister and fled to India on August 5. According to Ataur Rahman, the deputy director of the tribunal's investigation cell, preliminary evidence is currently being collected for these investigations, which have been characterized as related to "mass murder."

The cases were initiated by private individuals and have also implicated several of Hasina's former top aides, as reported by Hindustan Times. The investigations focus on violence occurring in areas around the capital Dhaka, such as Mirpur, Munshiganj, and Savar.

Additionally, local police units across Bangladesh have filed at least 15 cases against Hasina. Some of these cases, which include charges of murder and "crimes against humanity," predate the recent unrest. The Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), which was established by Hasina in 2010, is known for investigating atrocities from the country's liberation war against Pakistan.

Under Hasina's administration, the ICT has sentenced over 100 individuals to death, including numerous political opponents. However, the ICT has faced criticism from human rights groups for not adhering to international conventions, as per media reports.

The government under Hasina has been accused of widespread human rights abuses, including the extrajudicial killing of thousands of political opponents. On Friday, the United Nations reported strong indications that excessive force was used by Bangladeshi security forces in response to the student-led uprising.

The UN Human Rights Office's preliminary report highlighted alleged violations such as extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detentions, enforced disappearances, torture, and ill-treatment, warranting further independent investigation.