In a significant development in Bangladesh's political landscape, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been formally indicted on serious charges stemming from a mass uprising last year that resulted in the tragic deaths of hundreds, primarily students. After fleeing to India in August 2022 amid escalating protests, Hasina is being tried in her absence, with a tribunal announcing dates for the prosecution's opening statements and witness testimonies later this month.

The indictment comes from a special tribunal which recently accepted charges of crimes against humanity against Hasina, alongside former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. The tribunal's decision follows a period of intense violence during student-led protests, which saw widespread crackdowns from authorities that led to an estimated 1,400 fatalities, according to a February report by the United Nations Human Rights Office.

The tribunal officially commenced proceedings on June 5, 2023, with a three-member panel tasked with overseeing the trial. In an ongoing effort to bolster their case, the prosecution presented a leaked audio recording of Hasina and various documents as evidence against her. Despite her absence, the tribunal continues to move forward, having set August 3 for the prosecution to deliver its opening statement and August 4 for witness statements.

In a notable twist, Mr. Al-Mamun, who has been arrested and appeared before the tribunal, has agreed to cooperate with the prosecution, offering to provide a detailed account of his knowledge regarding the incidents during the uprising. He is expected to give a statement at a later stage, and in light of his cooperation, the tribunal has approved arrangements for his safety.

The Awami League, Hasina's political party, has vehemently condemned the tribunal's proceedings, labeling it a "kangaroo court" and accusing the interim administration led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus of undermining the judiciary to target dissenters. The party's leadership has expressed strong disapproval of the indictment, calling it a politically motivated act of persecution against them and asserting that it reflects an ongoing campaign to suppress opposition.

Adding to the drama surrounding the trial, Bangladesh's interim government has made a formal request to India for Hasina’s extradition, a request that has yet to elicit a response. Meanwhile, the tribunal continues to reject defense arguments aimed at dismissing the charges against Hasina and her associates. Amidst these turbulent times, the political climate in Bangladesh grows increasingly charged, with the implications of this trial potentially reshaping the future of the nation’s governance and civil liberties.