Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to death for crimes against humanity by the International Crimes Tribunal. The verdict, delivered in absentia, concludes a months-long trial resulting from her government’s violent suppression of student-led protests in July and August 2024, which ultimately led to her ouster.
The three-judge panel found Hasina guilty on three counts, including incitement, ordering killings, and failing to prevent atrocities during the crackdown. Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, reading the verdict, stated that Hasina “committed crimes against humanity by her incitement, order, and failure to take punitive measures”, specifically citing her orders to deploy drones, helicopters, and lethal weapons against civilians. According to a United Nations report, up to 1,400 people were killed during the 36-day protests, referred to as the “July Uprising.”
Hasina, 78, has been living in self-imposed exile in India since fleeing Bangladesh in August 2024. She and her former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who also received a death sentence, were tried in absentia. Former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, a co-accused, received a five-year prison term after pleading guilty and turning state witness.
Hasina has vehemently denied the charges, describing the tribunal as a “politically motivated charade” and claiming she was denied a fair chance to defend herself. Her now-banned Awami League party condemned the trial as a “kangaroo court.” Meanwhile, the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, maintains that the trials are crucial for accountability and restoring public trust.
The verdict has heightened security concerns across Bangladesh, with fears of renewed political unrest ahead of national elections expected in February 2026. Human rights organizations and international observers are closely monitoring the situation, emphasizing the importance of due process and stability.
