Bangladesh Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Amid Human Rights Allegations

A court in Bangladesh has issued an arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been in exile since August. The warrant, issued on Thursday, requires her to appear in court on November 18, according to Mohammad Tajul Islam, the chief prosecutor of Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal.

Hasina, who ruled Bangladesh for 15 years, faces serious charges, including allegations of human rights abuses, mass detentions, and extrajudicial killings of political opponents during her tenure. "Sheikh Hasina was at the helm of those who committed massacres, killings, and crimes against humanity from July to August," said Islam, marking the arrest order as a significant moment for Bangladesh.

Now 77 years old, Hasina has remained out of the public eye since fleeing to India. Her last known location was a military airbase near New Delhi. Her presence in India has heightened diplomatic tensions between the two neighboring countries. Bangladesh has revoked her diplomatic passport, and while an extradition treaty exists between Bangladesh and India, a clause allows for refusal if the charges are considered politically motivated.

During her time in power, Hasina's government established the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in 2010 to investigate war crimes from Bangladesh's 1971 independence war against Pakistan. However, the tribunal has been criticized by the United Nations and human rights groups for procedural issues and its alleged use as a tool to silence political rivals.

Currently, several cases accusing Hasina of involvement in the mass murder of protesters are being investigated, further escalating the political crisis in Bangladesh.

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