A murder investigation has been opened into Bangladesh’s ex-premier Sheikh Hasina over the police killing of a man during civil unrest.

Six other top figures in the previous government are also being investigated following weeks of deadly unrest in the capital Dhaka.

Mamun Mia, a lawyer who brought the case on behalf of a private citizen, said the court in Dhaka had ordered police to accept “the murder case against the accused persons”.

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