Murder case filed against Sheikh Hasina; first case after former PM left Bangladesh

DHAKA: Bangladesh has charged former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with murder. A murder investigation has been opened into Bangladesh's ex-premier Sheikh Hasina over the murder of a grocery store owner, Abu Sayed, who was shot dead during an anti-government protest. The Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court gave permission to charge Hasina.

Apart from Hasina, there are six accused in the case including Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, former Home Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun. Abu Sayed's friend Amir Hamza is the one who approached the court. This is the first case against Hasina since she left the country.
Hasina left the country on August 5 after resigning due to anti-government protests. After that, an interim government, under the leadership of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, had taken over the administration in Bangladesh.
Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy had said that she would return to the country soon. "Now mother is in India. The moment the interim government announces elections, she will return to Bangladesh. I am confident that the Awami League will have a strong presence in the elections and win." Sajeeb said that he will not hesitate to enter politics if necessary. Hasina and her sister are currently in an undisclosed secure facility in New Delhi.

Reservation in government jobs for family members of freedom fighters is what turned into a massive anti-government protest in Bangladesh. Students took to the streets against reservations in the country where unemployment is high. Hasina, who became the prime minister between 1996 and 2001, had won successively in elections in 2008, 2014, 2018 and 2024.