A court in Bangladesh has issued an arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She is accused of being involved in crimes against humanity during deadly clashes between students and police earlier this year.

The country's International Crimes Tribunal issued the arrest warrant on Thursday. Hasina's whereabouts are unknown.

Student-led demonstrations over civil service job quotas spread nationwide in July and August. Hasina's administration collapsed after 15 years in power, and she fled to India.

The death toll from the unrest is said to exceed 1,000. Many students were seriously wounded, and some reportedly lost their vision.

Arrest warrants have also been issued for 45 other people, including ministers in Hasina's administration. Authorities are under orders to arrest them, and bring them in for court hearings within a month.

The chief prosecutor says the suspects are very powerful, and a probe is not possible without their arrest.