Bangladesh’s ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has, for the first time, been formally charged in connection with a series of high-profile enforced disappearance cases that took place during her tenure, prosecutors said Wednesday (Oct 8).

According to Prosecutor Gazi Monowar Hossain Tamim, two separate formal charge sheets have been submitted against Hasina before International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1). One case names Hasina and her security adviser Tarique Siddiqui among 17 accused, while the other lists the former leader and Siddiqui among 13 defendants.

“Today, a total of three formal charges were filed with ICT-1 — two related to enforced disappearances and one concerning the July Movement shootings allegedly involving Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) officers,” Tamim told reporters.

The first disappearance case, linked to the so-called TFI incident, brings five specific allegations against 17 individuals, including Hasina and Siddiqui. The second, connected to the JIC disappearance case, also details five allegations against 13 accused persons. In addition, four BGB officers face six charges over the July Movement shooting in Dhaka’s Rampura area.

Earlier, on October 6, the Chief Prosecutor’s Office hinted that formal submissions were imminent. Speaking to the media, the Chief Prosecutor noted that “several significant developments” would unfold within the week, although he declined to elaborate. When asked whether investigations had concluded, he said multiple disappearance cases were still ongoing, but “final reports for the principal cases” would be filed shortly, describing them as “complex” and under close scrutiny.

When questioned whether Sheikh Hasina was among the principal accused, the Chief Prosecutor replied, “You will see the rest soon.”

SMS/