Bangladesh court orders arrest warrant for ex-leader Sheikh Hasina
1. Her rule saw widespread human rights abuses, including mass detention, extrajudicial killings of her opponents
**DHAKA:** A Bangladeshi court on Thursday issued an arrest warrant for exiled former leader Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in August following her ouster in a student-led revolution.
"The court has [...] ordered the arrest of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and directed her to appear in court on November 18," said Mohammad Tajul Islam, chief prosecutor of Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).
Hasina’s 15-year tenure as prime minister was marked by severe human rights abuses, including mass detentions and extrajudicial killings of political opponents.
"Sheikh Hasina led those responsible for massacres, killings, and crimes against humanity from July to August," Islam said, calling it a "remarkable day" for accountability.
The 77-year-old former leader has not been seen in public since fleeing Bangladesh. Her last reported location was at a military airbase near New Delhi, India.
**Diplomatic Tensions with India**
Hasina's presence in India has sparked outrage in Bangladesh. Dhaka has revoked her diplomatic passport and cited a bilateral extradition treaty with India, which would allow her return to face trial. However, the treaty includes a clause allowing India to refuse extradition if the offense is deemed to be of a "political character."
**Legacy of the ICT and Controversies**
Hasina’s administration established the International Crimes Tribunal in 2010 to investigate atrocities committed during Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. However, the tribunal has been widely criticized by the United Nations and human rights organizations for procedural flaws and is seen by many as a tool to suppress political rivals.
The court is currently investigating multiple cases against Hasina, accusing her of orchestrating the mass killing of protesters.
