Tue Jul 01 18:07:50 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, currently a fugitive in India, has denied accusations of committing crimes against humanity. These accusations stem from a violent crackdown on protesters in Bangladesh last year, which resulted in an estimated 1,400 deaths. Prosecutors have filed five charges against her, including abetment and incitement to murder, alleging she was determined to hold onto power at any cost. Hasina’s defence lawyer maintains her innocence, while her party denounces the trial as a sham. Prosecutors cite specific instances of violence, including the deaths of student protesters and civilians, arguing that Hasina bears overall command responsibility. Two other officials are also implicated in the case, one a fugitive and the other in custody.

**News Article:**

**Exiled Sheikh Hasina Denies Crimes Against Humanity in Absentia Trial**

**Dhaka, Bangladesh – July 1, 2025** – Fugitive former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, has vehemently denied charges of crimes against humanity leveled against her in an ongoing trial in absentia. Accusations stem from a brutal government crackdown on student-led protests in July and August of 2024, which the United Nations estimates resulted in approximately 1,400 deaths.

Ms. Hasina, who fled to India following the uprising, faces five charges including abetment, incitement, and complicity in mass murder. Prosecutors allege that her actions were driven by a desperate desire to cling to power.

Speaking through her state-appointed defence lawyer, Amir Hossain, Ms. Hasina denied all charges and promised to present arguments for her discharge. Her party, the banned Awami League, issued a statement from London calling the trial a “show trial” and reiterating her innocence.

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam detailed specific instances of alleged incitement to violence and the use of lethal weapons, including from helicopters. He further accused Ms. Hasina of seeking to establish a cult of personality around her late father.

Prosecutors are focusing on three specific cases tied to the suppression of the uprising: the murder of student protester Abu Sayeed and the killing of twelve other civilians in Dhaka suburbs. They argue that Ms. Hasina bears overall command responsibility for these acts.

Two other officials are implicated in the case. Former Interior Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal is also a fugitive, while ex-police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun is currently in custody. The trial continues in Dhaka without Ms. Hasina’s presence.

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