Bangladesh charges attempted murder against Sheikh Hasina and 58 others

Sheikh Hasina. File | Photo credit: Reuters

“A new case has been filed against Bangladesh's ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 58 others for the attempted murder of a student during the violent clashes that led to the fall of her government last month,” a media report said on Sunday (September 15, 2024).

It was the latest in a series of cases against the 76-year-old former prime minister, who resigned on August 5 and fled to India following massive student protests against a controversial quota system for government jobs.

The case was filed on Friday by 22-year-old Fahim Faisal, who claimed he was shot and injured during an anti-government protest in Dinajpur on August 4, a day before the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government. The Daily Star The newspaper reported.

“This brings the total number of cases against Ms Hasina to 155, including 136 for murder, seven for crimes against humanity and genocide, three for kidnapping, eight for attempted murder and one for attacking a Bangladesh Nationalist Party march,” the report said.

According to the case statement, protesters were attacked with firearms and local weapons, resulting in multiple injuries to Faisal. He was treated at Dinajpur Medical College Hospital and partially recovered.

Fifty-nine people are accused in the case, including Ms Hasina, former Whip Iqbalur Rahim and Dinajpur Sadar Upazila Chairman Imdad Sarkar.

More than 230 people have died in the violence that broke out across the country following the fall of Hasina's government. The death toll has now risen to over 600 since the massive student protests began in mid-July.