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The Australian National University says its honorary committee is re-evaluating the honorary Doctor of Laws degree it awarded to Hasina in 1999
Published : 22 Apr 2025, 01:03 PM
A leading Australian university is reviewing the honorary law degree it awarded to former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who faces charges of crimes against humanity, including overseeing massacres and enforced disappearances.
The Australian National University (ANU) has confirmed that its honorary committee is re-evaluating the honorary Doctor of Laws degree it awarded to Hasina in 1999, Australian daily The Canberra Times reports.
However, the university has not committed to a decision until it completes a broader review of its revocation procedures.
The review comes after Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission issued an arrest warrant for Hasina, accusing her of abusing political power.
In a separate case, Bangladesh's International Criminal Tribunal issued another warrant in October 2024, alleging crimes against humanity. Hasina fled to India last year after being ousted by a student-led mass uprising.
A United Nations investigation later revealed that at least 1,400 people were killed during a brutal crackdown on protests between Jul 15 and Aug 5, 2024.
Global human rights organisation Human Rights Watch also reported that the former prime minister "directly ordered enforced disappearances and killings” in the country.
If revoked, it would mark a historic first for ANU.
"Revocation of such a degree has not occurred in the university's recent history and no procedural precedent exists," a university spokesperson told the Australian Associated Press.
"The university is undertaking to develop a more detailed revocation procedure before deciding on any specific matter."
