All Allegations Brought Against Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

Dhaka Correspondent

This report outlines the full sequence of events from investigation to trial in the case filed against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two others over alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July–August 2024 mass uprising in Bangladesh.

The case has been registered as ICT BD Case No. 2/2025, titled Chief Prosecutor vs. Sheikh Hasina and Others. The accused are former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.

Receipt of Allegations and Commencement of Investigation

Complaints received on 14 August and 29 October 2024 initiated the investigation process. Misc. Case No. 02/2024 was filed on 16 October.

Arrest warrants were issued on 16 October for Sheikh Hasina and on 17 October for the other accused. Former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun was shown arrested on 16 March.

Investigation Report and Formal Charges
The investigation report was submitted on 12 May, and the formal charges were filed on 1 June. Approximately 10,000 pages of documentary evidence were submitted in 14 volumes. These included newspapers, domestic and international investigative reports, gazettes containing lists of the dead and injured, books, commemorative publications, event-based logs, graffiti compilations, collections of front-page news during the uprising, medical certificates, postmortem and inquest reports, firearms and ammunition logs, and helicopter flight schedules.

A total of 93 documentary exhibits and 32 material exhibits, including bullets, pellets, blood-stained clothing, videos, audio recordings, DVDs, pen drives, and books, were presented before the Tribunal.

Statements of 84 witnesses were recorded, of whom 54 testified in person.

Public notices for absconding accused were published on 17 June in two national newspapers.

State-appointed defence counsel was assigned on 24 June.

Charge hearings began on 1 July, and charges were framed on 10 July.

At this stage, former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun pleaded guilty.

The prosecution’s opening statement was delivered on 3 August, and witness examination began the same day. The first witness was Khokon Chandra Barman, who had been critically injured.

The final witness, Investigation Officer Md. Alamgir, testified on 8 October.

Following completion of testimony from all 54 witnesses, closing arguments began on 12 October and concluded on 23 October with the Attorney General’s final submission.

The Tribunal scheduled 17 November for delivering the verdict, as announced on 13 November.

Prosecution’s Charges Against Sheikh Hasina
The prosecution brought five charges against Sheikh Hasina.

Charge 1
At a press conference on 14 July at Ganabhaban, Sheikh Hasina made inflammatory remarks branding anti-discrimination student protesters as “children and grandchildren of Razakars.” Following similar statements by leaders like Obaidul Quader, ruling party activists allegedly launched armed attacks and torture campaigns against protesting students across the country.
Evidence:
Video of the press conference from state broadcaster BTV; footage and reports of similar statements by other leaders; investigative reports on ruling party attacks on campuses; nationwide reports and videos of killings and torture; testimony from eyewitnesses and victims.

Charge 2
Count 1: On the night of 14 July, Sheikh Hasina allegedly called Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Maksud Kamal, labeling protesters as Razakars and instructing that they be “hanged,” implying lethal force.
Count 2: In a conversation on 18 July with Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, she allegedly ordered the use of lethal weapons, drone surveillance, shooting from helicopters, and burning key installations to shift blame onto protesters.
Count 3: In two phone conversations with Hasanul Haq Inu, she allegedly ordered bombing protesters from helicopters, arbitrary detention and torture, and branding them as BNP, Jamaat, or militants.
Evidence: Voice recordings and forensic reports from NTMC; lists of the dead and injured; bullets and pellets extracted from victims; videos recorded by protesters; national and international media reports (BBC, Al Jazeera); UN Commission reports citing 1,400 deaths; Human Rights Watch and ITJP publications; testimonies from victims, families, doctors, experts, law enforcers; helicopter flight logs; curfew orders; and “shoot-on-sight” directives.

Charge 3
The killing of Abu Saeed, coordinator of the movement at Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, on 16 July, allegedly by police gunfire.
Evidence: Video of Hasina’s 14 July press conference; the VC phone-call recording; original NTV live footage of the shooting; five postmortem reports altered four times under police pressure; fabricated case files; testimonies of family members, journalists, doctors, students, and eyewitnesses.

Charge 4
The killing of six individuals on 5 August in the Chandkharpool area of Dhaka.
Evidence: Video of indiscriminate police firing and RTV original footage; video of martyr Anas being shot, his handwritten letter to his mother, and footage of him being transported to the hospital in a rickshaw; video of injured Yakub being carried to a rickshaw; mobile videos recorded by protesters and residents; BTV’s “July Onirban” documentary; testimonies of family members, non-compliant police officers, and eyewitnesses.

Charge 5
The killing and subsequent burning of six bodies in the Ashulia Thana area on 5 August.
Evidence: Video of police firing; footage of six bodies being loaded into a van and covered; photographs of charred remains; testimonies from families and police personnel.

Witness Profiles:
Victims, the injured, families of the deceased, eyewitnesses, doctors, journalists, the accused who confessed, forensic and ballistic experts, activists, police officers, wireless operators, investigators, and archivists.

Prosecution’s Prayer
Based on the evidence and testimonies presented, the prosecution has sought the maximum punishment for the accused and compensation for the victims.