Sheikh Hasina Faces Genocide Charges in Tribunal

Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is facing legal action at Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) due to allegations of genocide and crimes against humanity linked to the violent crackdown on protests demanding government job quota reforms. A complaint was filed by the father of a slain student, Alif Ahmed Siam, who was shot during protests on August 5, leading to his death two days later. The complaint names Hasina alongside several former officials, and asserts that her government is responsible for mass killings from July 15 to the day of her resignation on August 5. Legal experts are divided on whether the ICT can pursue these recent events as they were initially established for wartime crimes. The interim government, now led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has promised accountability for the violence that resulted in nearly 300 deaths. As investigations begin, Hasina's allies, including former cabinet ministers, are also implicated, with the ICT confirming the registration of the complaint and the initiation of an inquiry.