A court in Bangladesh has initiated a murder investigation against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and six senior members of her administration.
The charges stem from the death of a man during civil unrest last month, leading to Hasina's dramatic departure from power. The 76-year-old ex-premier fled to India by helicopter a week ago, where she remains in exile, as massive protests filled the streets of Dhaka, marking the end of her authoritative rule.
The unrest, which lasted for weeks, resulted in the deaths of over 450 people.
The murder case, filed by lawyer Mamun Mia on behalf of a private citizen, accuses Hasina and the six others of responsibility for the police shooting of a grocery store owner on July 19. The Dhaka Metropolitan Court has instructed the police to formally accept the murder case, marking the beginning of a criminal investigation under Bangladeshi law, reported AFP.
Among those named in the case are former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Obaidul Quader, the general secretary of Hasina's Awami League party, along with four senior police officers who were appointed during Hasina's government but have since vacated their positions. The case was brought on behalf of Amir Hamza Shatil, a resident of the neighborhood where the shooting took place and a supporter of the victim.
Sheikh Hasina's government has long been accused of widespread human rights violations, including the extrajudicial killings of numerous political opponents.
Following her ouster, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus returned from Europe to lead an interim administration tasked with overseeing democratic reforms. Yunus, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his work in microfinance, is credited with helping millions of Bangladeshis escape poverty. Now serving as the "chief adviser" to the caretaker government, Yunus has expressed his intention to hold elections within a few months.
The new government, however, has no plans to ban Hasina's Awami League party, which played a significant role in Bangladesh's independence movement. Home Minister Sakhawat Hossain, a retired brigadier general, acknowledged the party's contributions to the country, stating that they should be allowed to participate in upcoming elections.