Murder Case Filed Against Bangladesh Ex-PM Sheikh Hasina Following Government's Fall

A murder case has been filed against Bangladesh's ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and six others over the death of a grocery shop owner during last month's violent protests. The case comes after widespread demonstrations led to Hasina's resignation and exodus to India. The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has taken over.

A murder case has been filed against Bangladesh's ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and six others over the death of a grocery shop owner during last month's violent clashes, which led to the fall of her government, according to media reports on Tuesday.

This case marks the first filed against Hasina, 76, after she resigned and fled to India last week following widespread protests against her Awami League-led government over a controversial job quota system.

The case was filed by a well-wisher of Abu Sayed, the grocery store owner who was killed on July 19 in police firing during a procession supporting the quota reform movement in Mohammadpur, reported the Dhaka Tribune.

Other accused individuals include Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, among others. Several unnamed high-ranking police and government officials were also implicated in the case.

Over 230 individuals were killed in Bangladesh in incidents of violence that erupted nationwide following the fall of the Hasina government on August 5, driving the death toll to 560 since the anti-quota protests first began in mid-July.

An interim government was established after the fall of the Hasina-led government, with Chief Adviser and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus announcing the portfolios of his 16-member council of advisers last week.

On Monday, seven political parties, including the Awami League's arch-rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), met separately with Yunus and stated that the interim government could take the necessary time to create a conducive environment for holding free and fair elections, according to The Daily Star.

'We have given this interim government the time required to create a proper environment for holding an election,' quoted BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

He noted that they did not discuss the election nor specify a time frame for the next election. The BNP extended its full support to all activities of the interim government.

According to sources, the party urged Yunus to have all cases against its leaders, including chairperson Khaleda Zia and acting chairman Tarique Rahman, withdrawn.

Former prime minister Zia, 79, was released from jail after Hasina's ouster. She was sentenced to 17 years in prison for graft in 2018.

(With inputs from agencies.)