Bangladesh issues arrest warrant against former PM Sheikh Hasina
06/01/2025
Local media reported that Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024 after her government fell. -Reuters
DHAKA: A special tribunal in Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, has issued arrest warrants against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 11 other individuals in connection with the enforced disappearance, Xinhua reported.
The two-member International Criminal Tribunal, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumdar, issued the warrant on Monday in Dhaka.
Former Defence Adviser Hasina Major General (B) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, and former Bangladesh police chief Benazir Ahmed are also listed as suspects. Chief public prosecutor Tajul Islam told reporters that the prosecution had applied for arrest warrants for all 12 individuals involved in the enforced disappearance case.
"Among them, Major General Ziaul Ahsan, who has been sacked, has been ordered to be brought to justice because he is in custody. Warrants have been issued against 11 more individuals," he said.
According to the prosecutor, the next trial in the case is scheduled for Feb 12.
Local media reported that Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024 after her government fell.
Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry sent a diplomatic note to New Delhi last month, requesting Hasina's return to Dhaka from India.
India's Ministry of External Affairs later confirmed that it had received the extradition request of the ousted former Prime Minister of Bangladesh from Dhaka.
