Bangladesh's Ousted PM Charged With Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity

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Above: Bangladesh's then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed delivers a speech during the 25th International Conference on The Future of Asia on May 30, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. Image copyright: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Facts

  • A case was filed against former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and eight others, including former ministers, at the country's International Crimes Tribunal on Wednesday on charges of crimes against humanity and genocide.

  • This comes as at least 400 people have been killed during weeks of anti-government student protests that broke out in July and culminated in her resignation and fleeing to India on Aug. 5, after 15 years in office.

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The Spin

Narrative A

Hasina has tacitly confessed to being a criminal when she cowardly decided to flee — or was smuggled — to India once it was clear that her autocratic rule had come to an end. The former prime minister will have much to explain upon her possible return to Bangladesh — and she will have to pay for her crimes.

The Financial Express

Narrative B

Agitators and terrorists have plunged Bangladesh into chaos only to put the blame on Hasina and initiate several politically motivated cases against her and other innocent top officials. This persecution is all too reminiscent of the sacrifices her family — and other martyrs — have had to make for the country.

The Economic Times

Metaculus Prediction