Sheikh Hasina Faces Charges in Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal: What You Need to Know

In a significant legal development, Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal has filed charges against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 40 others for crimes against humanity related to a police crackdown during a 2013 rally. The case stems from violent protests by the Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam, which resulted in numerous fatalities. As the tribunal issues arrest warrants for several fugitives, including high-ranking officials, the implications of this case could reshape Bangladesh's political landscape. Hasina, who has been living in India since fleeing in 2024, faces serious allegations that could lead to severe consequences. Read on to uncover the full story behind these charges.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 27, 2026, 22:10 IST

Charges Filed Against Sheikh Hasina and Others

Dhaka: The prosecution at Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has officially charged former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with 40 others in connection with a case of crimes against humanity stemming from a police crackdown during a rally in Dhaka back in 2013.

The incident involved fatalities during police actions against a protest organized by the Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam in May 2013, while Hasina's Awami League party was in power. The charges were presented to the ICT registrar on Monday. Chief prosecutor Aminul Islam informed the media that the tribunal has acknowledged the charges against Hasina and the others regarding the deaths that occurred at Shapla Chattar during the Hefazat-e-Islam demonstration.

Additionally, the tribunal has issued arrest warrants for several fugitives, including the former army chief, various politicians, and security officials. Currently, nine prominent accused individuals, including former ministers, senior police officials, and journalists, are in custody awaiting trial.

At 78 years old, Hasina was sentenced to death by the same tribunal in November of the previous year after being tried in absentia for her role in suppressing a student-led protest that led to the downfall of her Awami League government in 2024. She has been residing in India since fleeing there on August 5, 2024.

The Hefazat-e-Islam group had organized a significant rally in the city center with police approval, advocating for a 13-point demand that included the establishment of a blasphemy law to impose stricter penalties for disrespecting Islam and its revered figures on May 5, 2013. However, the situation escalated into an indefinite sit-in protest, defying government orders to vacate the capital after their scheduled demonstration.

During the rally at Motijheel Shapla Chattar, the protesters set fire to stalls selling religious texts near the Baitul Mokarram National Mosque complex. They also torched 30 buses and 100 shops, and felled numerous trees to create roadblocks. Several government buildings, banks, and the Communist Party office in the Purana Paltan area were also damaged and set ablaze. The then-opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, expressed support for the Hefazat-e-Islam group, urging its members to provide food and water to the protesters.