Court issues warrant for arrest of Bangladesh's former leader

A Bangladeshi court has issued warrants for the arrest of the country's fugitive former Prime Minister Sheik Hasina and 45 other people.

The International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) of Bangladesh accused them on Thursday of committing crimes against humanity during anti-government protests that took place in July and August.

The warrants have been issued at the request of the public prosecutor, the Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star quoted the ICT chief prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam as saying. Former high-ranking members of Hasina's party are amongst the accused.

It is suspected that Hasina is in India, which granted her protection following her hasty departure from Bangladesh. It was initially unclear how the neighbouring country would respond to any requests from Bangladesh to hand over Hasina. There is an extradition agreement between the two countries.

The former head of government resigned at the beginning of August after mass protests and heavy clashes between demonstrators and security forces. and was taken to India by military helicopter. Hundreds of people died in the protests, which were led by students.

Hasina had tried to crack down on the protests, which were initially directed against the planned reintroduction of a controversial job quota system in the public sector.

Later, the demonstrators demanded the prime minister's resignation, who they accused of an increasingly authoritarian style of government.

After her flight, a transitional government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus was installed with the backing of the military.