Sheikh Hasina Sentenced to death
A Bangladeshi court on Monday sentenced former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to death after finding her guilty of crimes against humanity for allegedly ordering a violent crackdown on a student-led uprising last year.
The verdict was issued by the International Crimes Tribunal, Bangladesh’s domestic war-crimes court, amid tight security in the capital. Hasina, who fled to India following her ouster in August 2024, was tried in absentia. The ruling was broadcast live on national television, drawing widespread public attention as the country prepares for its first election since her removal from office.
Presiding judge Golam Mortuza Mozumder said the prosecutors had proven “all elements constituting crimes against humanity,” delivering the decision to a packed courtroom.
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Hasina Condemns Verdict
In a written statement, Hasina denounced the ruling as “biased and politically motivated,” saying she remained willing to face her accusers “in a proper tribunal where evidence can be tested fairly.”
Although the former leader is legally entitled to appeal to the Supreme Court, her son and adviser Sajeeb Wazed said they would only pursue an appeal once a democratically elected government is formed and her Awami League party is allowed to participate in the political process. The party has been barred from contesting the upcoming February elections, raising concerns that the decision may further inflame political tensions.
Deadliest Unrest Since 1971
Prosecutors argued during the trial that Hasina directly ordered security forces to use lethal force on student protesters during massive demonstrations in July and August 2024. A United Nations report estimated up to 1,400 deaths and thousands of injuries—most caused by gunfire—in what it described as the worst violence Bangladesh has experienced since its 1971 independence war.
Hasina was represented by a state-appointed attorney, who maintained that the charges were unfounded and urged the court to acquit her.
Ahead of the ruling, Hasina dismissed the proceedings as illegitimate, insisting that a guilty verdict was “a foregone conclusion.”
Country on Edge
Tension has been high nationwide in the days leading up to the verdict. Authorities recorded at least 30 crude bomb explosions and 26 vehicles set ablaze across Bangladesh, though no casualties have been reported.
As the February election approaches, political observers warn that Monday’s judgment could trigger further unrest in a country still grappling with the fallout of last year’s turmoil.
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