Ousted Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina Sentenced to Death for Crimes Against Humanity

Ousted Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina Sentenced to Death for Crimes Against Humanity

Dhaka, Bangladesh — November 17, 2025:
A Bangladesh special tribunal has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death, convicting her of crimes against humanity in connection with a brutal government crackdown on student-led protests in 2024.

Background of the Trial

·         The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) in Dhaka, a domestic special court, tried Hasina on multiple charges, including incitement, conspiracy, failure to prevent mass violence, and ordering lethal measures against protesters.

·         She was tried in absentia, as she has been living in exile in India since fleeing Bangladesh in August 2024 amid widespread unrest.

·         The tribunal was originally formed to try war crimes from Bangladesh’s 1971 independence war, but was used in this case to prosecute the 2024 protests. 

Details of the Verdict

• Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, presiding over the tribunal, said that Hasina “gave incitement” and “expressed orders to eliminate protesting students.”
• According to the court, Hasina ordered the use of drones, helicopters, and lethal weapons against the students.
• The verdict holds her directly responsible for the deaths during the protests, as well as for failing to take preventive or punitive measures.
• She faces three counts that carried the death penalty and two charges that resulted in life imprisonment.

Co-Accused and Other Sentences

• Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, the former Home Minister, was also sentenced to death by the tribunal.
• Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, former police chief, received a five-year prison sentence after cooperating with the prosecution.
• The court also ordered the confiscation of Hasina and Kamal’s properties.

Reaction & Controversy

• Sheikh Hasina defiantly rejected the charges, calling the tribunal a “rigged” institution established by a government with no democratic mandate.
• She argued she was not given a fair opportunity to defend herself and insisted that her actions were intended to restore order, not to commit atrocities.
• Human Rights Watch (HRW) raised serious concerns about the fairness of the trial, noting that the defendants tried in absentia did not enjoy full legal protections, and warning that capital punishment for politically charged trials sets a dangerous precedent.
• The United Nations rights office expressed that while accountability is necessary, the use of the death penalty is deeply troubling.

Impact & What Comes Next

• The verdict marks a turning point for Bangladesh, where the 2024 “July–August uprising” reportedly claimed up to 1,400 lives, mostly protesters shot by security forces.
• The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has prioritized this case as part of broader efforts to hold the former regime accountable.
• While the judgement can be appealed to the Supreme Court, Hasina’s current status in India complicates any immediate enforcement.
• The ruling is likely to further polarize Bangladeshi politics, with Hasina’s supporters denouncing it as politically motivated and her opponents calling it overdue justice.