A murder charge has been filed against former prime minister of Bangladesh , Sheikh Hasina, and six others in connection with the death of a grocery store owner during last month’s violent clashes that led to the collapse of her government, according to media reports on Tuesday.
This is the first legal action against the 76-year-old Hasina since she resigned and fled to India last week amid widespread protests against her Awami League-led administration over a contentious job quota system.
Charges Filed After Police Firing
The charge was brought by a supporter of Abu Sayed, the grocery store owner who was killed on July 19 during police firing at a demonstration supporting quota reform in Mohammadpur, as reported by the Dhaka Tribune.`
Among the accused are Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, among others.
The case also includes several unnamed high-ranking police and government officials, according to the report.
Following the fall of Hasina’s government on August 5, over 230 people were killed in the ensuing violence across Bangladesh, bringing the total death toll to 560 since the anti-quota protests began in mid-July.
Interim Government Of Bangladesh Faces Election Challenges
An interim government has taken over, with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel laureate aged 84, announcing the members of his 16-member advisory council last week.
On Monday, seven political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which is the Awami League’s main rival, met Yunus separately. They agreed to allow the interim government the necessary time to establish a conducive environment for free and fair elections, as reported by The Daily Star.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that while the BNP did not set a specific timeline for the next election, it fully supports the interim government’s efforts. He also mentioned that the BNP had requested the withdrawal of all cases against its leaders, including those involving party chairperson Khaleda Zia and acting chairman Tarique Rahman.
Khaleda Zia, 79, was released from prison following Hasina’s departure. She had been serving a 17-year sentence for corruption since 2018.
