Sheikh Hasina, the ousted prime minister of Bangladesh, will be brought to trial for crimes against humanity, said to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
In an interview with Sky News Asia correspondent Cordelia Lynch, Yunus asserted that not only Hasina but also those complicit in her actions—her family members, associates, and beneficiaries—would be held accountable.
The interview, published by the British media outlet on Wednesday (5 March), comes amid growing legal action against Hasina, who was ousted by a student-led uprising and has since fled to India.
Hasina is accused of overseeing a network of clandestine detention centres where political opponents were allegedly interrogated, tortured, and, in some cases, killed under the pretext of the “war on terror.”
Bangladesh has already issued two arrest warrants against her, and Yunus confirmed that a formal request for her extradition had been sent to the Indian authorities, though no official response has been received from New Delhi.
Yunus stressed that Hasina would have to face justice, either by returning to Bangladesh in person or in absentia. He recently visited one of the notorious secret prisons known as Aynaghar, expressing shock at its conditions.
Describing it as "one of the most grotesque" facilities he had ever seen, Yunus underscored the scale of human rights violations allegedly perpetrated under Hasina’s administration.
Hasina has long denied these allegations, claiming she is being politically persecuted.
However, Yunus maintains that an extensive network of over 800 such secret prisons operated under Hasina’s watch, with numerous officials now in hiding.
He acknowledged the complexities of identifying all those involved, stating that some were complicit by direct orders, while others engaged out of coercion or fear.
While emphasising that justice would be served, Yunus reassured that trials would be conducted in adherence to international legal standards, ensuring due process.
"Some will face punishment, some will remain under investigation, and some may not be identified. But there will be no rush—everyone involved in these crimes will be held accountable," he affirmed.
