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Bangladesh sentences ex-PM Sheikh Hasina to death for protest crackdown
A tribunal in Bangladesh has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia for crimes against humanity, holding her responsible for the lethal suppression of student-led protests that toppled her government in July 2024. The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) ruled that Hasina authorized the use of deadly force against demonstrators, resulting in approximately 1,400 deaths during months of unrest.
Trial and verdict details
The verdict, delivered Monday in Dhaka, caps a months-long trial conducted by Bangladesh's domestic war crimes court. Hasina, who has lived in exile in India since her ouster, was convicted alongside her former home minister and police chief. Prosecutors argued that the crackdown-marked by shootings, arbitrary arrests, and torture-constituted systematic abuses of power. Hasina's defense team called the proceedings "politically motivated" and "biased," while her state-appointed lawyer, Mohammad Amir Hossain, expressed disappointment, noting the inability to appeal due to her absence.
Leaked audio obtained by BBC Eye earlier this year appeared to corroborate allegations that Hasina sanctioned "lethal weapons" against protesters. The recording was presented as evidence during the trial. A February report by UN human rights investigators concluded that the violence could amount to "crimes against humanity," citing point-blank shootings, deliberate maiming, and widespread torture.
Public and political reactions
Families of victims welcomed the ruling, demanding swift execution. Ramjan Ali, whose brother was killed in July 2024, told the BBC he sought "exemplary punishment" for Hasina and her associates. Lucky Akther, whose husband died near Dhaka the following month, insisted the sentence should be carried out "before the election" to deliver justice. Meanwhile, Hasina's five-page response dismissed the tribunal as a tool to "nullify" her Awami League party, asserting pride in her government's human rights record and challenging the interim government to present its case at the International Criminal Court.
"I am not afraid to face my accusers in a proper tribunal where the evidence can be weighed and tested fairly."
Sheikh Hasina, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh
Security in Dhaka was tightened ahead of the verdict, with reports of bomb explosions and arson attacks in the preceding days. One blast occurred Monday morning, though no casualties were reported, according to local police official Jisanul Haque.
Broader implications for Bangladesh
The conviction underscores the volatile transition following Hasina's 15-year rule, which combined economic growth with escalating repression-including politically driven arrests, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings. The protests began as a demand to abolish government job quotas but expanded into a broader anti-government movement, culminating in her flight to India and the installation of an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
Analysts warn the verdict may deepen divisions. Shireen Huq, a Dhaka-based rights activist, noted that neither Hasina nor the Awami League has apologized for the killings, complicating the party's future. "The anger has not subsided," she said, highlighting the lasting trauma of survivors, including amputees from the crackdown. Journalist David Bergman suggested the conviction could further marginalize the Awami League unless it distances itself from Hasina's leadership.
Diplomatic and legal challenges
Bangladesh has formally requested Hasina's extradition from India, though New Delhi has shown no willingness to comply, making execution of the sentence unlikely. Last week, Hasina's legal team filed an urgent appeal to the UN, citing fair trial violations. She has repeatedly called for the charges to be heard by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
The Awami League, banned by the interim government in May, faces potential exclusion from February 2026 parliamentary elections. Hasina previously warned that barring her party's candidates could trigger a mass boycott. The tribunal's decision now tests Bangladesh's fragile political stability as it navigates the legacy of the protests and the road to elections.
