Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, was removed from power in August following violent protests over government job reservations. She left the country using a military helicopter and sought refuge in India. After her departure, Muhammad Yunus formed an interim government. Recently, this government has faced accusations of using the judiciary for political purposes.
Sajeeb Wazed, Sheikh Hasina’s son, has claimed that the Yunus-led government is using judicial powers to target leaders of his mother’s political party, the Awami League. In a social media post, Wazed criticized the actions of the interim government, describing the trials conducted by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) as politically motivated and unjust.
The interim government has taken significant legal action against Sheikh Hasina and her associates. On Monday, it sent a diplomatic note to India requesting Hasina’s extradition. The ICT has also issued arrest warrants for Hasina and other officials from her administration, accusing them of crimes against humanity and genocide.
Wazed alleges that the judges and prosecutors in the tribunal are part of a political campaign against the Awami League. He called the tribunal a "kangaroo court" and accused the government of suppressing political dissent through extrajudicial killings, false charges, and mass arrests. According to him, violent acts such as vandalism and arson are being carried out with impunity under the interim government’s watch.
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India and Bangladesh’s diplomatic relations have deteriorated since Sheikh Hasina’s removal from office. One major point of tension is the reported persecution of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. While India has confirmed receiving a diplomatic request for Hasina’s extradition, it has refrained from making any public comments.
Wazed also accused Tajul Islam, the chief prosecutor of the ICT, of spreading false information about Hasina. He claimed that Islam wrongly stated that Interpol had issued a red notice against her. After media reports exposed this claim as false, the prosecutor revised his statement and formally requested Hasina’s extradition.
Wazed reiterated the need for fair investigations into human rights violations that occurred during the July-August period. However, he expressed distrust in the Yunus-led government’s ability to ensure justice, accusing it of turning the judiciary into a tool for political persecution.
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