A war crimes tribunal has officially indicted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, along with former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, in a case related to crimes against humanity during the July–August crackdown.

On Thursday, July 10, the International Crimes Tribunal-1, led by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, rejected the defense’s plea to dismiss the charges and ordered the trial to proceed, marking the formal start of the proceedings against all three accused.

The prosecution first filed charges on June 1, following an investigative report submitted on May 12. A hearing took place on July 7, where state-appointed lawyers requested the discharge of Hasina and Kamal, claiming their innocence. However, no such request or hearing was made for former IGP Mamun.

The charges include incitement, provocation, and issuing directives leading to the killing of over 1,400 people during the suppression of protests. The accused are being tried under the doctrines of superior command responsibility and joint criminal enterprise. Prosecutors submitted key evidence, including audio recordings allegedly containing orders from Hasina to use lethal force against demonstrators.

This case marks a rare instance of high-profile political and security figures facing accountability for alleged atrocities during civil unrest.