Staff Reporter :
Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her close associates find themselves at the center of a storm of legal challenges, with a staggering total of 130 cases filed against them. These cases span a wide range of serious accusations, including murder, crimes against humanity, abduction, and enforced disappearances.
The legal fallout comes in the wake of the Bangladesh Awami League-led government’s dramatic fall from power on August 5, which was precipitated by massive student-led protests and widespread public unrest. Within days of her government’s ousting, the first case was filed against Sheikh Hasina on August 13 in Dhaka, with the 100th case being registered at the International Crimes Tribunal on August 29.
Among the numerous cases, several stand out due to the gravity of the accusations. Sheikh Hasina, along with former ministers, Members of Parliament, and journalists, is facing charges of genocide and crimes against humanity. Eight cases have already been referred to the International Crimes Tribunal, while the remaining cases are being handled by police stations across the country.
One of the most shocking charges is linked to abduction and enforced disappearances, further complicating Hasina’s legal predicament. These cases have intensified the scrutiny on the former Prime Minister, who is already dealing with allegations of political violence during her tenure.
The legal battle against Hasina has taken an even more serious turn with the registration of eight murder cases in the Feni district. These cases involve 3,037 accused, including Sheikh Hasina herself and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader. The charges stem from the violent suppression of the anti-discrimination student movement on August 5, in which nine people were reportedly killed.
One of these cases was filed by Ashia Begum, a resident of Feni district, who accused Sheikh Hasina, along with other prominent leaders, of being responsible for the death of her husband, Zafar Ahmad. He was killed during a protest in the district’s Jail Road area. The list of accused in the case includes former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Member of Parliament Nizam Uddin Hazari.
Feni Model Police Station confirmed that Lt General (Retd.) Masud Uddin Chowdhury, a former MP, has also been named as the main accused in the murder cases. Over 150 unnamed individuals were also implicated in the charges filed.
The violence that erupted during the anti-discrimination movement has sparked a slew of additional murder cases. On August 4, Mahbubul Hasan Masum, a 25-year-old protester, was shot and killed in the Mohipal area.
His brother, Mohammad Mahmudul Hasan, subsequently filed a case against Sheikh Hasina, Obaidul Quader, and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, implicating 162 named individuals and 500 others as unnamed accused.
According to Feni Police Station, other notable cases include the Shihab murder case with 301 accused, the Shravan murder case involving 305 accused, the Masud murder case naming 334 individuals, and the Sabuj murder case, where 465 people were charged. Each of these cases is related to the deaths of protesters during the violent crackdowns on demonstrations across the country.
Eyewitnesses and CCTV footage from the August 4 protests in Feni have further deepened the controversy. Armed individuals, allegedly Awami League leaders and activists, were seen firing indiscriminately into crowds of student protesters. These tragic incidents resulted in the deaths of nine people, with growing demands for justice and accountability.