[VIDEOS] Bangladesh army chief confirms PM Hasina’s resignation [Update at Post#189]

[sweep_shot]

Bangladesh issues arrest warrant for ex-leader Hasina

A Bangladeshi court has ordered an arrest warrant for former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in August after she was ousted by mass protests.

Hasina is wanted by Bangladesh's International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) for her alleged involvements in "crimes against humanity" that took place during the demonstrations, in which hundreds were killed.

Hasina, who was in charge of Bangladesh for more than 20 years, was seen as an autocrat whose government ruthlessly clamped down on dissent.

Arrest warrants have also been issued for 45 others, including former government ministers who also fled the country.

"The court has... ordered the arrest of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and to produce her in court on November 18," Mohammad Tajul Islam, the ICT's chief prosecutor, told reporters on Thursday.

"Sheikh Hasina was at the helm of those who committed massacres, killings and crimes against humanity in July to August," he added.

Bangladesh's interim health ministry said in August that more than 1,000 people were killed in the violence this summer after student-led protests against government job quotas turned into mass demonstrations, making it the bloodiest period in the country's history since its 1971 independence.

Hasina, 77, has not been seen in public since fleeing Bangladesh. Her last official whereabouts is a military airbase near India's capital Delhi.

She was initially expected to stay in India for a short time, but reports say her attempts to seek asylum elsewhere have been unsuccessful so far.

Her continued presence in India poses a challenge for Delhi in working with the new interim government in Dhaka. Many in Bangladesh are angered by the fact she has been given shelter by India.

The new interim government in Bangladesh has revoked her diplomatic passport and the two countries have a bilateral extradition treaty which would permit her return to face criminal trial.

A clause in the treaty, however, says extradition might be refused if the offence is of a "political character".

Hasina's government created the ICT in 2010 to investigate atrocities during the war with Pakistan, which gave Bangladesh its independence in 1971.

The United Nations and rights groups criticised its procedural shortcomings and it became widely seen as a means for Hasina to eliminate political opponents.

The tribunal, reconstituted by the interim government, began its proceedings on Thursday. Critics say it lacks judges with experience of international law.

Several cases accusing Hasina of orchestrating the "mass murder" of protesters are being investigated by the court.

Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed has said his mother is ready to face trial. "My mother has done nothing wrong," he told Reuters news agency last month.

BBC

Awesome.

India should do the right thing and extradicate her so that she can answer for her crimes.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Bangladesh court issues arrest warrant for exiled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal on Thursday issued an arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, currently in India, citing her alleged involvement in mass killings during violent protests that erupted earlier this year.

The protests, which began as a student-led movement against public sector job quotas, escalated into some of the deadliest unrest since the country’s independence in 1971, resulting in over 700 deaths and numerous injuries.

The violence ultimately forced Hasina to flee to India on August 5 and an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus took charge.

The tribunal’s proceedings, presided over by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumdar, saw prosecutors request arrest warrants for 50 individuals, including Hasina.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/17/asia/bangladesh-arrest-warrant-sheikh-hasina-intl-hnk/index.html

 

[FearlessRoar]

Hasina’s resignation: ‘I have no documentary evidence’​

President Mohammed Shahabuddin has said he heard Sheikh Hasina had resigned as the prime minister, but he does not have any documentary evidence.

"I tried [to collect the resignation letter] many times but failed. Maybe she did not get the time," he added.

The president said these when Manab Zamin Chief Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury met him and wanted to know about ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation letter.

The write-up that carries the conversation was published in the daily's political magazine "Janatar Chokh" yesterday.

Hasina left the country on August 5 following a student-led mass uprising.

According to section 57(a) of the constitution, the prime minister's office shall become vacant if he/she resigns from the office at any time by handing the resignation letter to the president.

During the conversation, the president said, "At 10:30am on August 5, the Bangabhaban had gotten a call from the prime minister's residence, saying the honourable prime minister would visit the Bangabhaban to call on His Excellency the President. Right afterwards, preparations began at the Bangabhaban. But within an hour, another call came saying she [Hasina] won't be coming."

There was news of unrest everywhere, he said.

"[At the time] I don't know what's going to happen. I can't sit around and depend on rumours. So, I asked Military Secretary General Adil to find out [what is happening]. He had no news either. We were waiting, even watching the television scrolls. There was no news anywhere.

"At one point, I heard she had left the country. She didn't tell me anything. I just told you [interviewer] whatever is true. Anyway, when Army Chief General Waker came to the Bangabhaban, I tried to know if the prime minister resigned. He gave me the same answer: 'I heard she resigned'. She perhaps did not get the time to let [us] know."

Shahabuddin added, "When things came under control, one day the cabinet secretary came to collect the copy of the resignation letter. I told him that I too am looking for it."

At one stage of the conversation with Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, the president said, "There is no room for debate in this regard anymore. The prime minister has left and that is the truth. Even then, just to ensure this question never arises again, I sought the Supreme Court's opinion on the matter."

In response to the reference sent by him, the Appellate Division of the SC, headed by the then chief justice Obaidul Hasan, gave its opinion on August 8.

It said an interim government may be formed to remove the constitutional vacuum and to ensure smooth operations of the executive, and also the president is allowed to swear in a chief adviser and other advisers of the interim government.

Hasina’s resignation: ‘I have no documentary evidence’

"I tried [to collect the resignation letter] many times but failed. Maybe she did not get the time," President Mohammed Shahabuddin said.

www.thedailystar.net