• Bangladesh's first trial against Sheikh Hasina-era officials commenced on Sunday.
• The court has charged eight police officials with crimes against humanity related to protests.
• Evidence includes video footage and recorded communications implicating Hasina.
• This trial follows the killing of six protesters on August 5 during an uprising.
• Political parties demand such trials before elections set for June 2026.

Bangladesh has officially commenced the first trial at a special court prosecuting **former senior figures** associated with the ousted government of Sheikh Hasina. This trial involves **eight police officials** charged with crimes against humanity linked to the **killing of six protesters** during a significant uprising on August 5, 2024, a day when Hasina fled the country as demonstrators stormed her palace, according to Indiatimes, Dawn, and South China Morning Post.

The eight individuals facing charges include four in custody and four tried in absentia. Chief prosecutor Tajul Islam stated, “The formal trial has begun,” and expressed confidence in their ability to substantiate the allegations, which stem from the death of approximately **1,400 people** during a government crackdown to quell protests that challenged Hasina's 15-year regime, according to Indiatimes, Dawn, and South China Morning Post.

This historic trial arrives amidst a political landscape characterized by **demands from various political parties** for accountability from Hasina's administration as Bangladesh prepares for future elections that the interim government has committed to holding by **June 2026**. The charges encompass various roles, including “**superior command** responsibility,” direct orders, and lesser participation as articulated by prosecutor Islam, according to Indiatimes, Dawn, and South China Morning Post.

Among the evidence presented are **video footage** and recorded conversations purportedly involving Hasina instructing the use of lethal force against protesters. This trial represents a significant moment for the **International Crimes Tribunal** (ICT), established by Hasina in 2009, which has been viewed as a tool for political suppression against her adversaries, according to Indiatimes, Dawn, and South China Morning Post.