Thousands march in Bangladesh demanding prosecution of ousted prime minister | Sheikh Hasina News
The government of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been accused of killing hundreds of protesters last summer.
Thousands of people rallied in Bangladesh’s capital to demand the prosecution of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and those responsible for hundreds of deaths in a mass uprising against her government in July.
The Student Movement Against Discrimination organized what it called a March for Unity on Tuesday at the central Shaheed Minar, a national monument in Dhaka. Protesters chanted slogans calling for Hasina’s trial and the banning of her Awami League party.
Hasina fled to India on August 5 after weeks of violence in which authorities said hundreds of people were killed and thousands injured at the behest of her government. The revolt ended the 15-year rule of the country’s longest-serving prime minister, who began a fourth consecutive term in January after elections boycotted by opposition parties.
Last week, Bangladesh sent an official request for Hasina’s extradition to India. He faces multiple lawsuits over the deaths of protesters, including some for crimes against humanity.
“Since August 5, we have no more enemies in Bangladesh. Our only enemy is the Awami League,” said Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the student movement, addressing the crowd.
The protesters also called on the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to issue an official proclamation by January 15 presenting the uprising.
Student leaders want the proclamation to include two key demands: a new constitution after the repeal of the current charter, which was enacted under Hasina’s father in 1972, and a ban on the Awami League.
Hasa’s party has ruled Bangladesh since 2009.
The Dhaka-based International Criminal Court has already issued arrest warrants for Hasina and her close associates, and the government has sought the help of international police organization Interpol in seeking her arrest.
Speaking from the United States, Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed, questioned the credibility of the tribunal and called the charges against her a “political witch hunt”.
Meanwhile, the interim government has vowed to try Hasina and others in her administration on charges of killing protesters and called on the United Nations to help investigate the killings.
Hasina also called for an investigation, saying many of the deaths may have involved parties other than security agencies.
