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A Bangladeshi court ordered an investigation into former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s alleged involvement in the death of a grocery shop owner during the country’s violent demonstrations, which resulted in the longtime leader fleeing to India last week, Reuters reported.
The probe marks the first investigation against Hasina and her senior officials following last month’s student-led protests that saw as many as 450 people killed.
The protests began over opposition against quotas for government jobs, but escalated into widespread unrest against Hasina and her ruling Awami League party, which has dominated Bangladesh’s politics for the past 15 years.
The case centers on the death of grocery store owner Abu Saeed, who was allegedly killed by police fire while crossing the street in the capital Dhaka on July 19. At the time, authorities were attempting to suppress demonstrations in the area.
The probe will target Hasina and some of her officials, including Obaidul Quader, general secretary of the Awami League party, and former Interior Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kama.
The ousted leader and her officials have long been accused of human rights violations and the persecution of political opponents, Agence France-Pressed wrote.
Hasina fled to neighboring India on Aug. 5 and only made her first public comments on Tuesday in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) which she demanded “justice” and said those involved in “terror acts” of killings and vandalism must be brought to justice, the National Herald India reported. She also urged calm for the cancelled national holiday for Aug. 15 that commemorates the killing of her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who founded the country.
Following her removal, economist and Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus returned from Europe to lead a caretaker government as “chief adviser.” Yunus has pledged new elections and to address the human rights concerns raised during Hasina’s administration.
He added that recent high-profile resignations, including those of the chief justice and five supreme court judges that happened over the weekend after students again hit the streets in protest, were managed legally, according to the Voice of America.
Students also took over police duties when police officers, afraid of reprisals, failed to appear for duty, and also guarded Hindu temples and other places frequented by minorities in the Muslim-majority country after minorities were targeted during the protests.
Meanwhile, the political turmoil has affected Bangladesh’s critical garment industry, which accounts for 85 percent of the country’s $55 billion in annual exports.
The interim government has assured foreign investors they would protect investments.
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