A Bangladeshi court issued an arrest warrant on Thursday for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted from power in August following widespread student protests in the country, according to AFP.
Mohammad Tajul Islam, the chief prosecutor of Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal, stated, "The court has ordered the arrest of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and has required her appearance in court on November 18."
Hasina, who sought refuge in India, has remained out of the public eye since leaving Bangladesh. Her last known whereabouts were at a military airbase located near New Delhi.
The arrest warrant against Hasina is linked to allegations of crimes against humanity. During her 15 years in power, there were numerous reports of human rights violations, including mass detentions and extrajudicial killings targeting political opponents.
Islam remarked, "Sheikh Hasina was at the forefront of those who committed massacres, killings, and crimes against humanity from July to August."
In addition to Hasina, the court also issued a warrant for Obaidul Quader, the former general secretary of Hasina's Awami League party, along with 44 unnamed associates.
Following Hasina's regime's downfall, many of her allies were arrested, accused of involvement in a police crackdown that resulted in over 700 deaths during the turmoil. Former cabinet ministers and senior members of the Awami League have been taken into custody, and her government’s appointees have been removed from positions in the courts and the central bank.