DHAKA: A court in Bangladesh has initiated a murder investigation against ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and six senior officials from her administration over the police killing of a man during last month’s civil unrest.
Hasina, 76, fled to neighbouring India by helicopter a week ago and remains there as protests erupted on the streets of Dhaka, marking a dramatic end to her 15-year rule. The unrest, which preceded her removal, resulted in over 450 deaths.
According to Mamun Mia, the lawyer who filed the case, the Dhaka Metropolitan Court has ordered the police to initiate a criminal investigation into the charges against Hasina and six others. This marks the first step in the legal process under Bangladeshi law.
The case, filed on behalf of a private citizen, also names Hasina’s former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Obaidul Quader, the general secretary of her Awami League party. Additionally, it includes four senior police officers who were appointed by Hasina’s government but have since left their positions.
The accusation centers on the killing of a grocery store owner on July 19, who was shot dead by police while they were violently suppressing protests. The Daily Star reported that the case was brought by Amir Hamza Shatil, a local resident and “well-wisher” of the victim.
