Bangladesh Violence: Ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and six others, including two senior ministers in her Cabinet and a sacked police chief, will be tried on murder charges, court officials said on Tuesday.
This is the first case registered against Hasina (76), who resigned and went to India on August 5 after widespread protests against the Awami League-led government over the controversial job reservation system. This case has been registered against Hasina and six others in connection with the death of a grocery shop owner during the violent clashes last month.
FIR registered against these Awami League leaders
“Based on a case filed by a resident of Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area, Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury has asked the police to register it as an FIR,” a court official said. He said the case names six other accused – Awami League general secretary and former road transport minister Obaidul Quader, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, sacked inspector general of police (IGP) Abdullah Al Mamun, Dhaka police commissioner Habibur Rahman, additional IGP Harun-ur-Rashid and additional joint commissioner Biplab Kumar.
A well-wisher of the grocery store owner filed a case
This case has been registered by a well-wisher of Abu Saeed, a grocery store owner. Abu Saeed was killed in police firing during a procession taken out on July 19. Meanwhile, according to the report of ‘Dhaka Tribune’ newspaper, Aamir Hamza Shatil, who filed a murder case against Hasina and six others, has received death threats over the phone. The report said that shortly after filing the case, Shatil received a call from France at around 2.30 pm on Tuesday and was threatened to face consequences.
Two Awami League ministers disappeared on August 5
While Hasina left for India, the two ministers secretly left the country hours before her resignation on August 5, while no information is available about the whereabouts of the police officers. According to court officials, the magistrate has directed the Mohammadpur police station to register a case. A police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was not clear which agency would be entrusted with the investigation of the case.
The total number of people killed in the violence has risen to 560
More than 230 people have been killed in incidents of violence that broke out across the country after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government in Bangladesh on August 5. The total number of people killed in the violence has risen to 560 since the first anti-quota protests began in mid-July.
Muhammad Yunus was made the head of the interim government
After the fall of the Hasina-led government, an interim government has been formed in Bangladesh and 84-year-old Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been made its interim head. Yunus announced the portfolios of his 16-member advisory council last week. According to the newspaper ‘Daily Star’, seven political parties, including Awami League’s arch rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), met Yunus separately on Monday and said that the interim government can take the necessary time to create a favorable environment for holding free and fair elections.
Time given to interim government to conduct elections in Bangladesh- Alamgir
The report quoted BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as saying, “We have given this interim government the necessary time to create a suitable environment for holding elections.” Alamgir said that he did not discuss anything regarding the elections and the BNP has not mentioned any specific time frame for holding the next elections. He said that the BNP is giving its full support to all the activities of the interim government.
Cases against Khaleda Zia and her leaders should be withdrawn- BNP
Citing sources, the report said the party urged Yunus to withdraw all cases against its leaders, including party president Khaleda Zia and acting president Tariq Rahman. Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia (79) was released from jail after Hasina’s ouster. She was sentenced to 17 years in prison for corruption in 2018.
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