Awami League Condemns Trial of Sheikh Hasina as Fabricated Plot by Anti-Liberation Forces

Dhaka : The Bangladesh Awami League has strongly denounced what it calls a “fake and farcical” trial against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accusing anti-national and anti-independence forces of orchestrating a politically motivated conspiracy. The party labeled the judicial process a “kangaroo court” established by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus to target Hasina and suppress pro-liberation voices in Bangladesh.

Formal charges were filed on Sunday against Sheikh Hasina for alleged crimes against humanity, reportedly committed during the student-led uprising of July–August 2024. The charges claim that Hasina masterminded violent acts, including killings and the burning of bodies during the nationwide movement that sought to oust her government. Prosecutors allege that these acts were organized under her direct orders.

The Awami League, however, has categorically rejected the legitimacy of the trial. In a statement released on the party’s official Facebook page, General Secretary Obaidul Quader called the trial a politically motivated sham. “Today will be remembered as a black day in the history of Bangladesh,” Quader said. “Anti-national and anti-liberation elements have conducted a mock trial in a court set up to fulfill their political objectives.”

Quader further dismissed the allegations as “absurd and baseless,” accusing the Yunus-led interim regime of fabricating charges against Sheikh Hasina to prevent her return to politics. “The people of Bangladesh will never accept this fabricated drama,” he said.

The interim administration had earlier banned all activities of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations to facilitate the prosecution. However, Quader argued that the trial lacked credibility from the start, noting that no proper investigation was carried out into the casualties of the student protests. “The fascist and illegal Yunus government failed to examine how the movement was diverted into violent areas, which seemed orchestrated,” he added.

Quader highlighted that Sheikh Hasina herself had established a judicial commission to investigate the deaths and had even called for an international inquiry to ensure transparency. “But Yunus blocked all avenues for international investigation after unlawfully seizing power,” he said.

Raising serious doubts about the integrity of the trial, Quader pointed out that 7.62 mm rifles — not used by regular Bangladeshi law enforcement agencies — were employed in the killings, and no post-mortem examinations were conducted on the deceased. “Proceeding with such a trial without a thorough investigation exposes the vindictive agenda of the interim regime,” he said.

The Awami League leader also emphasized Sheikh Hasina’s historical role in prosecuting war criminals responsible for atrocities during the 1971 Liberation War. “This fake trial is a retaliatory act against a leader who held war criminals accountable in the pursuit of justice for Bangladesh’s birth,” he asserted.

In a scathing attack on the interim administration, Quader accused Muhammad Yunus and his allies of colluding with extremist forces backed by Pakistan to destabilize the country. “There is a deep conspiracy to transform Bangladesh into a terrorist state. Yunus represents this extremist nexus seeking to dismantle the values of the Liberation War and democratic governance,” he said.

He warned that efforts were underway to eliminate Sheikh Hasina from the political landscape through fabricated charges. “They want to silence the voice of Jananetri Sheikh Hasina, the indomitable leader of the democratic movement. This ridiculous persecution aims to keep her from returning to the country,” he said.

The Awami League concluded its statement by vowing to resist this conspiracy and defend the democratic rights of the people. “We strongly condemn this plot and pledge to oppose it with all our strength,” Quader declared.

Team Maverick.