The overthrow of Sheikh Hasina on August 5 marks a seismic shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape. With her flight to India, questions abound regarding the future of both Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League, the party she helmed for decades.
While Awami League may survive in some form, it is likely that Sheikh Hasina herself will face an ignominious end, politically and legally, as the culmination of her long reign gives way to retribution for the crimes she has been accused of.
The July-August student massacres and other atrocities have paved two possible paths: a political ban or a public trial, or even both.
Sheikh Hasina’s Crimes on the International Stage
Sheikh Hasina’s alleged crimes are manifold and extend beyond Bangladesh’s borders, tainting the country’s reputation on the international stage. These can be divided into three overarching categories:
- Crimes Against Democracy:
Sheikh Hasina’s administration is accused of throttling democracy, stifling opposition, and overseeing uncontested, fraudulent elections. Legitimate political processes were dismantled as opposition parties were silenced, media outlets controlled, and voices of dissent suppressed.
- Gross Human Rights Violations:
Under Hasina’s regime, disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and a pervasive culture of fear took root. Personal freedoms, privacy, and human dignity were trampled upon, establishing a grim narrative of state-sanctioned terror.
- Genocide of Students:
The July-August student massacres were, perhaps, the gravest of her alleged crimes, with thousands missing or dead. This represents an unforgivable sin against the nation’s youth and calls for a specific tribunal focused on addressing this mass murder.
A Three-Pronged Tribunal Structure for Justice
To ensure justice is served, there should be a systematic approach to address these severe and sensitive crimes.
The establishment of three distinct special tribunals—each focusing on a specific area of crime—would allow for an efficient and just process.
Tribunal for the Suppression of Democracy:
This special court would focus on cases related to the obstruction of opposition political activity, attacks on meetings, suppression of free speech, and the fraudulent elections of 2014, 2018, and 2024.
Those responsible for orchestrating uncontested elections and nighttime vote rigging would be held accountable.
The outcome could see bans placed on all Awami League candidates involved in these three elections, barring them from participation in any future national or local elections for 15 years.
In essence, this tribunal would dismantle the Awami League’s political structure without needing to ban the party outright, successfully passing the first layer of accountability.
Tribunal for Human Rights Violations:
This tribunal, which could be run under the framework of the existing International Criminal Tribunal (ICT), would prosecute the forced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and violations of personal privacy carried out under Hasina’s rule.
It would focus on eliminating the errors of past tribunals and ensuring that international standards of justice are upheld.
Fairness, transparency, and accountability will be crucial, with the goal of earning the trust of the Bangladeshi public and international bodies alike.
Tribunal for the Genocide of Students:
A third, new tribunal should be formed specifically to address the massacre of students in July and August.
This tribunal would be responsible for ensuring that Sheikh Hasina and other complicit officials are brought to justice for the mass killing of Bangladesh’s youth.
The magnitude of this crime requires its own dedicated institution to ensure justice for the approximately 18,000 missing and injured students.
The success of these tribunals will hinge on their ability to maintain high standards of impartiality and fairness.
If done correctly, these trials will likely receive the tacit support of the international community, including the United Nations and Western nations.
Breaking Down Awami League’s Economic Power
Beyond legal accountability, the state must also dismantle the economic structure that allowed the Awami League to thrive and consolidate power.
Awami League leaders and their supporters built their empires not with their own funds, but by exploiting the country’s banking system and syphoning off public funds.
Factories and businesses owned by party leaders should be classified as national assets, and steps must be taken to ensure their continued operation, preventing any disruption to the nation’s economy.
Corrupt owners will be prosecuted, but the businesses they built must be preserved for the welfare of the nation.
While the process of recovering laundered money from abroad may be slow, breaking down the economic structure within Bangladesh will accelerate the downfall of Awami League’s financial power.
It’s crucial that skilled administrators be appointed to keep factories and industries running smoothly, ensuring that no panic spreads through the economy.
Addressing Cultural Terror and the Soft Power of Fascism
Perhaps the most challenging, yet crucial, aspect of dismantling Awami League’s influence lies in breaking down its cultural hegemony and propaganda machine.
Over the years, Awami League has cultivated an army of supporters within civil society—academics, artists, media personalities—who have used soft power to normalise and justify the regime’s authoritarian excesses.
These groups have manipulated narratives, distorted facts, and eroded the moral fabric of the nation.
Breaking their influence will be a necessary and painful task, but it is essential to ensuring that the country is not plunged back into the same ideological morass in the future.
A New Era of Justice, Economic Stability, and Cultural Renaissance
Through judicial tribunals, economic justice, and a cultural struggle, Bangladesh can rid itself of the venomous legacy of Awami League fascism.
There can be no shortcuts on this path—true and lasting change requires a carefully calibrated and comprehensive approach.
By building a new, conscious civil society that rejects authoritarianism and embraces democratic values, the people of Bangladesh can forge a brighter future.
Only then will the nation be able to invest in the collective beauty and aspirations of its citizens, transforming Sheikh Hasina’s dark legacy into one of renewal and rebirth.
With the poison of fascism fading naturally from the bloodstream of the state, Bangladesh can rise as a beacon of democracy, justice, and unity.
Dr. Rakib Al Hasan is a young physician, author, activist, award-winning global youth leader and politician from Bangladesh. A respected political analyst and the founder of the Centre for Partnership Initiative, he has made significant strides in promoting cultural diversity, youth leadership, and international diplomacy. With seven published books and accolades like the Global Youth Leadership Award 2019 and Outstanding Young Leader of Asia Award 2021, Dr. Rakib Al Hasan is a leading voice on global platforms. He also serves as a youth ambassador for various international organisations, championing change and collaboration across borders.
He could be reached at rakibalhasan@cpibd.org and md.rakibalhasan.bd@gmail.com
His X (former Twitter) handle is @rakibalhasan_bd
