Dhaka, Bangladesh — A special tribunal in Bangladesh has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia, finding her guilty of “crimes against humanity” for her role in a violent crackdown on a student-led uprising last year.

The verdict

  • The International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) in Dhaka convicted Ms Hasina on multiple counts, including incitement, ordering lethal force, and failing to prevent mass killings.
  • According to prosecutors, she gave orders to deploy drones, helicopters and weapons against protestors.
  • In total, three of the charges carried the death sentence, while two others resulted in life imprisonment.
  • The tribunal also directed the government to pay compensation to the families of protesters killed or injured.

Context: the 2024 uprising

  • The charges relate to a student-led protest movement in July–August 2024, which evolved into a nationwide uprising.
  • According to a United Nations report, up to 1,400 people may have died during the crackdown—most killed by security forces.
  • The protests began over a controversial policy on civil service jobs, but escalated into broader unrest. TIME

Reactions

  • Ms Hasina, who has been in self-imposed exile in India since August 2024, strongly denied the accusations. She described the tribunal as a “rigged kangaroo court” established by an “unelected government.”
  • Her party, the Awami League, has condemned the verdict as politically motivated.
  • The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, had made her prosecution a key promise.
  • Amnesty International responded critically, stating that while accountability is needed, “the death penalty simply compounds human rights violations.”

Security and political fallout

  • Security was significantly tightened in Dhaka as the verdict was announced, with army, police and paramilitary forces deployed.
  • There are fears of renewed unrest as political tensions remain high ahead of upcoming elections.
  • Bangladesh has formally requested India to extradite Ms Hasina, though New Delhi has not publicly responded.
  • The ruling can reportedly be appealed to the Supreme Court.

This verdict marks a dramatic turn in Bangladesh’s politics, underscoring deep divisions in a country already reeling from a turbulent year.

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