A special tribunal in Bangladesh has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death after finding her guilty of crimes against humanity linked to her government’s brutal crackdown on the 2024 student uprising. The ruling, delivered in absentia by the International Crimes Tribunal-1, marks one of the most consequential political judgments in the country’s history.
The tribunal ruled that Hasina ordered and oversaw violent operations involving helicopters, drones, and armed units to suppress largely unarmed demonstrators during the July–August 2024 protests that were sparked by anger over public sector recruitment quotas and wider grievances about state repression. Judges said the operation resulted in the deaths of up to 1,400 people, with thousands more injured or detained.
Hasina, 78, fled Bangladesh following her removal from power and has since been based in India. She has repeatedly denied all accusations, describing the case as a politically motivated witch-hunt designed by her opponents after her ouster. Her party, the Awami League, dismissed the ruling as illegitimate and accused the tribunal of serving the interests of the interim authorities.
The court also sentenced former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death on similar charges, while the former inspector general of police, Abdullah Al-Mamun, who turned state witness, received a five-year prison term. Security forces were placed on high alert across Dhaka ahead of the verdict, with soldiers, police, and paramilitary units deployed around key government installations to prevent unrest.
Human rights organisations have raised concerns about the fairness of the trial, arguing that the tribunal’s procedures did not meet international standards and that political tensions may have influenced the outcome. Despite these criticisms, some opposition groups hailed the ruling as overdue accountability for years of alleged state repression under Hasina’s rule.
The verdict signals a dramatic and unprecedented turn in Bangladesh’s political landscape, making Hasina the first former leader in the country to receive a death sentence for actions committed while in office. The ruling is expected to deepen the nation’s already polarized environment and could complicate diplomatic relations, particularly with India, where Hasina remains in exile.
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