Bangladesh’s former police chief, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, appeared in court on Wednesday to face accusations of overseeing a brutal crackdown during the August revolution that led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s regime.
Prosecutors allege that Al-Mamun, as the former Inspector General of Police, orchestrated massacres, genocide, and crimes against humanity in an attempt to suppress the mass protests that toppled the 15-year-long government of Sheikh Hasina. The court appearance included seven other defendants, including Ziaul Ahsan, a former commander of the feared Rapid Action Battalion.
Chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam, representing the International Crimes Tribunal, described the alleged crimes as “atrocities that even devils dare not do.” Among the charges presented were extrajudicial killings, dismemberment of bodies, shutting down the internet during protests, and the surveillance of government critics.
Chilling Allegations
The prosecution accused Ahsan of operating secret detention centers and leading operations to silence dissent. One of the most shocking allegations involves the killing of student protester Shaikh Ashabul Yamin, whose death was captured on video. The footage, widely shared on social media, showed Yamin’s body being thrown from a police armored vehicle.
Lower-ranking officers also face grave accusations, including the killing of protesters and burning their corpses to destroy evidence.
Majharul Islam, a former police chief of Dhaka’s Gulshan district, broke down during the hearing, claiming his innocence and pleading for mercy. “I supported the protests, please save me,” he told the court.
Hasina’s Regime Under Scrutiny
Since the collapse of Hasina’s government in August, dozens of her allies have been detained on charges of orchestrating violent crackdowns during the uprising that claimed over 700 lives. Prosecutors have also issued an arrest warrant for Sheikh Hasina herself, accusing her of “massacres, killings, and crimes against humanity.” However, Hasina fled to India by helicopter on August 5 and remains in exile.
Next Steps
The court has given prosecutors until December 19 to submit a comprehensive investigation report. The accused remain in custody as the investigation unfolds, signaling the beginning of a broader accountability process for the abuses during Hasina’s administration.
This trial marks a significant step in addressing allegations of widespread human rights abuses during one of Bangladesh’s most turbulent periods.
