Bangladesh court issues arrest warrant for former PM Sheikh Hasina over alleged crimes against humanity

A special court in Bangladesh has issued arrest warrants for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 45 others, including her senior aides and members of the security establishment, in connection with alleged crimes against humanity during the student-led uprising earlier this year that forced her to flee the country.

Prosecutor B.M. Sultan Mahmud confirmed that the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka issued the warrants following two petitions submitted by prosecutors, accusing Hasina and her associates of ordering violence and killings during protests in July and August.

The tribunal’s chief judge, Golam Mortuza Majumdar, issued the order in the presence of other members of the bench. The warrants mark a dramatic escalation in Bangladesh’s ongoing political crisis, which has seen deep divisions between pro-Hasina loyalists and student-led movements demanding accountability and democratic reform.

Hasina, who had led Bangladesh since 2009, fled to India on August 5 after weeks of violent demonstrations that left hundreds dead. Prosecutors allege that under her leadership, security forces and ruling party supporters were involved in targeted attacks on protesters.

Political analysts say the development could reshape the country’s political landscape, with potential diplomatic implications for India and Canada, home to large Bangladeshi diaspora communities - particularly in Toronto, Calgary, and Surrey. Many expatriates have voiced concerns about human rights and political freedoms in their homeland, calling for international monitoring of the judicial process.