A Bangladeshi court has issued a second arrest warrant for the exiled former leader Sheikh Hasina, this time accusing her of involvement in enforced disappearances during her time in power.
The new warrant, announced on Monday by Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam, follows a previous one issued for crimes against humanity.
Sheikh Hasina, 77, fled to India in August after being overthrown by a student-led revolution, which brought an end to her 15-year rule marked by numerous human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings and the mass imprisonment of political opponents.
Islam explained that the latest arrest warrant is linked to allegations of enforced disappearances, where more than 500 individuals were reportedly abducted by Bangladeshi security forces.
Some of the victims were allegedly held in secret detention facilities for extended periods, and many have recently begun sharing their disturbing stories since Hasina’s departure from power.
The court has also issued warrants for 11 other individuals, including Hasina’s military adviser, several military officials, and law enforcement personnel.
In December, Bangladesh requested India to extradite Hasina to face trial, but India has yet to respond to the request.
Despite this, Islam emphasized that the court is determined to proceed with the trial, stating, “We want to ensure the trial concludes as soon as possible, but that doesn’t mean we will bypass the law or deliver a verdict without proper legal procedures.”
Since Hasina’s regime collapsed, many of her associates have been arrested and are facing charges related to a violent police crackdown that killed over 700 people during the unrest that led to her downfall.
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