A court in Dhaka began a trial in absentia on Sunday against former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accusing her of orchestrating a “systematic attack” to suppress mass protests against her government during the summer of 2024.

According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), prosecutors charged Hasina, 77, with authorizing a violent security crackdown that left approximately 1,400 people dead between July and August 2024, citing figures from the United Nations.

Hasina fled the country aboard a helicopter as student-led uprisings toppled her 15-year rule. She later took refuge in neighboring India, her long-standing ally, and has since defied an official order to return to Dhaka for prosecution.

The trial marks a significant development amid Bangladesh’s ongoing political transition. The interim government has vowed to hold former officials accountable for abuses committed during the crackdown, while international observers continue to monitor the legal proceedings and their potential impact on the country’s fragile stability.