Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has told Sky News that ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina will stand trial for crimes against humanity. She is accused of overseeing a system of enforced disappearances during her time in government, as well as the mass killing of protesters in July and August last year.
Speaking to Sky News, Professor Yunus said: "A trial will be taking place. Not only her but also all the people who are associated with her - her family members, her clients or associates."
Hasina, who was toppled by the protests and is currently in exile in India, is accused of overseeing a network of secret detention centres where it's alleged her political opponents were interrogated, tortured and some killed - all under the banner of a "war on terror".
Bangladesh has issued two arrest warrants for her. Professor Yunus said they had sent "formal letters" but received "no official response" from New Delhi.
He insisted that Hasina would face the court, whether physically present in Bangladesh or in absentia in India.
Recently, Professor Yunus visited the “Aynaghar”. In this regard, he said that he was beyond shocked at what he saw.
"This is just the ugliest thing that you can see, you can feel, or you can observe," he said.
Hasina is also accused of using her security forces and police to oversee the abduction, torture and murder of hundreds of activists.
She denies the allegations and says she's being politically persecuted. Her close aides and many of those accused of overseeing a network of as many as 800 secret jails have fled Bangladesh.
Professor Yunus said the number and range of people involved in the alleged crimes was "taking time" to work through.
"Everybody was involved in it all," he said. "The whole government was involved in it. So you cannot distinguish who was really and enthusiastically doing it, who was doing it under orders and who was not quite supportive but carrying out those kinds of things."
Hasina is also accused of a violent crackdown on protesters in July and August which the UN estimates killed as many as 1,400 people in the days before the fascist prime minister fled.
Professor Yunus tried to manage expectations around how quickly the families of victims will see justice, and whether that will happen under his watch.
Elections for a new government in the country could happen as early as December.
"Some will get punished, some will still be under the process, some will still be untraceable," he said.
Courtesy: Sky News
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
