Hasina named in 663 cases over July Uprising, 453 on murder charges: TIB

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) today (2 February) said a total of 663 cases, including 453 of murder, have been filed against ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina over alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July 2024 mass uprising.

The findings were revealed in a research report unveiled at TIB's Dhanmondi office, outlining the progress, challenges and limitations of cases filed in connection with the uprising.

As of 19 November 2025, a total of 1,785 cases has been filed nationwide over crimes against humanity linked to the July uprising, according to the report.

Sheikh Hasina has been named as an accused in 663 of those cases. Of the total cases, 736 are of murders, with Hasina listed as an accused in 453.

TIB said charge sheets have been submitted in only 106 cases, including 31 murder cases, reflecting slow progress in investigations.

So far, 128 former ministers and members of parliament from the Awami League government have been arrested in connection with the cases.

The report revealed that 761 cases have been filed against the police over the same incidents, naming 1,168 serving and former police personnel as accused. Among them, 61 have been arrested.

At the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), 450 complaints have been lodged so far, of which 45 have been taken into cognisance. These cases involve 209 accused, with 84 arrests made.

Currently, 12 cases are under trial at the ICT, involving 105 accused persons. TIB said many of the accused have fled the country, with allegations that members of the military, law enforcement agencies and local political leaders directly or indirectly facilitated their escape.

TIB expressed serious concern over what it described as indiscriminate filing of cases following the uprising.

The report estimated that around 150,000 people across the country have been made accused in these cases.

The watchdog cited widespread allegations of case trading, retaliatory filings, political harassment and extortion through threats of inclusion or exclusion from cases.

In many instances, law enforcement agencies reportedly accepted cases without proper investigation due to pressure, the report said.

TIB also raised concerns over the competence and political affiliations of judges and prosecutors appointed to the ICT.

While acknowledging that trials have begun and some progress has been made, the organisation warned that weak case foundations, lack of incident-specific charges, investigative complexity and the absence of a clear factual narrative are undermining the judicial process.

The report further pointed to the absence of effective accountability for police actions beyond limited departmental measures, along with continued practices of unlawful arrests, excessive remand, denial of bail, prolonged pre-trial detention, and political influence in legal proceedings.

TIB also noted cases where journalists and professionals were named as accused in murder cases, raising serious questions about misuse of the justice system.

Although the live broadcast of verdicts was cited as a positive step, TIB cautioned that failure to fully adhere to due process and legal standards could jeopardise fair justice and risk allowing actual perpetrators to escape accountability.