Bangladesh Court Sentences Former PM Sheikh Hasina to Death

Dhaka Tribunal Sentences Ex-PM Sheikh Hasina to Death on Five Counts of Crimes Against Humanity

Bangladesh Court Sentences Former PM Sheikh Hasina to Death: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death by the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal for crimes against humanity. The court ruled that Hasina, along with her associates, ordered the repression and killing of protesters during the student demonstrations in July and August 2024. The trial was initiated by the current Yunus government, which accused Hasina of orchestrating the crackdown that resulted in the deaths of over 1,400 protesters across the country.

According to the tribunal, Hasina was the mastermind behind the massacre, directing security forces to violently suppress the student movement. The ruling has sent shockwaves through Bangladesh, with heightened tensions and strict security measures being implemented nationwide. The Awami League, Hasina’s political party, has condemned the verdict as politically motivated, while the government insists that justice must be served for the victims of the brutal crackdown.

Verdict and Charges

The tribunal held that Hasina orchestrated a brutal crackdown on student protests in July 2024. According to the prosecution, 1,400 people were killed during the security operation under her leadership. The court’s sentence came after the prosecution demanded the death penalty, branding Hasina the “mastermind” behind the violence.

The five counts on which she was convicted are:

Murder, Attempted Murder, Torture, and Inhumane Acts

She is accused of facilitating and participating in these acts, failing to prevent them, and being complicit through senior officials including the former home minister and IGP.

2. Ordering Use of Lethal Force via Helicopters, Drones, and Weapons

The court found that Hasina ordered the deployment of helicopters, drones, and other lethal means to suppress protesters, with assistance from her top security aides.

3. Murder of Abu Sayeed

Hasina, along with her co-accused, is held responsible for the death of student protester Abu Sayeed near Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, allegedly after making inflammatory remarks and directing the use of force.

4. Shooting of Six Unarmed Protesters at Chankharpul, Dhaka

On August 5, six students were reportedly shot dead in Dhaka’s Chankharpul area on her orders or instigation, constituting a crime against humanity.

5. Killing and Burning of Protesters in Ashulia

The court ruled that six protesters in Ashulia were shot; five of them were set on fire after death, while one victim was burned alive, in acts carried out in collusion with Hasina and her associates.

The Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death, citing 84 pieces of evidence and witness testimony in its verdict. The case was filed by the interim Yunus government after Hasina’s ouster in 2024, accusing her of orchestrating the violent crackdown on student protesters that left over 1,400 people dead. The court found Hasina and her associates guilty of crimes against humanity, including ordering repression and killings during the nationwide unrest.

Sheikh Hasina rejected the verdict, calling it biased and politically motivated, and claimed that her side was not adequately heard during the trial. Amid escalating violence in Bangladesh, she fled to India at night, later seeking refuge in Delhi with Indian assistance, amid reports that her life was under serious threat. The ruling has intensified political tensions in Bangladesh and sparked widespread debate over justice and accountability.