Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Sunday commenced the trial of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in absentia over crimes against humanity related to the violent suppression of the 2024 student-led protests.

The prosecution also named Hasina’s two top aides — former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullaah Al Mamun — as the co-accused in the case. 

The ICT commenced the proceedings against Hasina on several charges, with the major one being killings and tortures to tame last year’s Students Against Discrimination (SAD)-led violent street campaign that eventually toppled her Awami League government on August 5, 2024.