Murder case filed against former Bangladesh Prime Minister

A murder investigation has been opened into former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina over the police killing of a man during civil unrest last month.

Six other senior figures in the previous government are also under investigation following weeks of deadly unrest in the capital Dhaka.

Mamun Mia, a lawyer representing a citizen, said a court in Dhaka had ordered police to file a “murder case against the accused”.

This is the first step in a criminal investigation under Bangladesh law.

Ms Hasina resigned and left the country earlier this month, fleeing to India after political turmoil destabilised the government.

More than 400 people have been killed in weeks of student protests against Ms Hasina, many of them shot by police on her orders.

Businessman Amir Hamza filed for a murder trial in July, after a local grocer, Abu Saeed, was shot in the head while crossing the street.

He told the court that on July 19, students held a peaceful protest and police opened indiscriminate fire on the crowd, according to BBC Bangla.

Former Roads and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader is among those under investigation.