Murder Case Filed Against Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina Following Violent Protests

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, 76, fled to neighboring India by helicopter a week ago as mass protests erupted on the streets of Dhaka, marking a dramatic end to her iron-fisted tenure. In a new development, a murder case has been filed against Hasina and six others, according to lawyer Mamun Mia, who brought the case on behalf of a private citizen.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Court has ordered police to proceed with the murder case, initiating the first step in a criminal investigation under Bangladeshi law. The case is tied to a July 19 incident in the Mohammadpur area of Dhaka, where police opened fire on a procession during a protest against government reservation policies. The protest resulted in the death of Abu Saeed, a local grocery store owner. The killing has now led to the filing of charges against Hasina and several high-ranking officials from her administration.

Among the accused are Awami League Secretary General Obaidul Quader, former Interior Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and four top police officers who were appointed by Hasina’s government. These include former Inspector General of Police Chaudhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, former Detective Branch Chief Harun-or-Rashid, and senior Dhaka Metropolitan Police officers Habibur Rahman and Biplob Kumar Sarker.

The murder case was registered in the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chaudhary by Mohammadpur resident Amir Hamza Shatil. The charges stem from the violent crackdown on the anti-reservation protests, which were fueled by anger over a government quota that favored families of those who participated in the freedom struggle against Pakistan. The protests, which turned increasingly violent, saw Hasina’s government respond with both strategic measures and force, but ultimately, she failed to quell the unrest.

In a bid to calm the situation, Hasina eventually agreed to the protesters’ demands but was forced to resign from her position. Following her resignation, she quietly left for India, leaving behind a country in turmoil and a legacy now marred by allegations of state-sanctioned violence.