Sheikh Hasina will stand trial for crimes against humanity, according to Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.
In an interview with Sky News, Yunus stated that while the former prime minister is currently in India, proceedings could continue in her absence if she is not extradited to Bangladesh.
Hasina faces allegations of orchestrating mass killings of protesters in July and August last year, along with overseeing a system of enforced disappearances during her tenure. Reports suggest that her so-called “war on terror” resulted in the creation of secret detention facilities where dissenters were subjected to torture or execution under the guise of interrogation.
Bangladesh has issued two arrest warrants against the ousted leader. Despite formal requests sent to India, New Delhi has yet to provide an official response regarding her extradition.
Yunus emphasized that Hasina, along with her associates, including family members and key allies, would be held accountable. However, given the scale of the accusations, he acknowledged that the judicial process might take time.
“The entire government was involved in these acts,” Yunus told Sky News. “It’s difficult to distinguish who participated enthusiastically, who acted under orders, and who complied reluctantly.”
As Bangladesh prepares for elections in December, the interim administration has been focusing on reforms, including anti-corruption efforts and the Rohingya refugee crisis.
Commenting on corruption investigations involving Hasina’s family, Yunus highlighted the seriousness of the case against her niece, UK Labour MP Tulip Siddiq. Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission had previously named Siddiq in its probe, prompting her resignation as treasury minister in January.
A spokesperson for Siddiq, however, refuted the allegations, telling Sky News that she “totally denies the claims” and has “not been contacted on these matters.”
On the Rohingya crisis, Yunus reiterated the government’s plan to relocate refugees to a safer area before facilitating their return to Myanmar. He acknowledged that problems stemming from “violence, drugs, and paramilitary activities” in Cox’s Bazar refugee camps would not be resolved overnight.
