In brief
A special court in Bangladesh has issued an arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, charging her with serious crimes linked to the deaths of over a thousand protesters during the tumultuous final months of her administration.
On June 2, 2025, the International Crimes Tribunal — established by Hasina in 2010 to address historical war crimes — laid out charges against her and several associates, alleging incitement, facilitation, and conspiracy in the crackdown against demonstrators. This latest legal development marks a significant escalation in the scrutiny of Hasina, who fled to India amid accusations of escalating violence against peaceful protests last July. As the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus faces increasing pressure for delayed elections, the political landscape in Bangladesh remains tense. The broadcast of court proceedings marked a historic moment for transparency in the country, even as all accused parties were absent from the hearing. Opposition groups continue to call for immediate elections amid growing frustrations with the interim administration’s pace of electoral reforms.
