Bangladesh Protest Victim Testifies in Ex-PM Hasina Crimes Trial

Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh's fugitive ex-prime minister, is on trial in absentia on charges amounting to crimes against humanity related to a deadly crackdown on a student-led uprising that resulted in up to 1,400 deaths between July and August 2024. The first witness, Khokon Chandra Barman, a 23-year-old protester severely injured by a gunshot to the face during the protests, testified seeking justice for himself and other victims. Prosecutors accuse Hasina of orchestrating the violence and failing to prevent mass murder, labeling her as the central figure behind the atrocities. Hasina has defied court orders to return from India to attend the trial, which also involves two other accused: a fugitive former interior minister and a former inspector general of police who has pleaded guilty. The trial is being broadcast with graphic evidence, and the Attorney General has emphasized the demand for the highest punishment for those responsible. The defense points to the chaotic nature of the protests on the day Barman was shot, highlighting the contested circumstances of the violence.