Ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death by the country’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) for crimes against humanity, including the killing of multiple people during last year’s student uprising, which ultimately led to the collapse of her government.
The verdict follows a months-long trial conducted in Hasina’s absence. The 78-year-old Awami League leader, currently living in exile in New Delhi since her ouster on 5 August 2024, was found guilty on three charges: incitement to violence, issuing orders to kill protesters, and failing to prevent atrocities during the student-led uprising.
Former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan was also sentenced to death, while a former police chief received five years in prison after becoming a state witness and pleading guilty.
The landmark ruling, arriving months ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for early February, is expected to reshape Bangladesh’s political landscape. Hasina’s Awami League has been barred from contesting the polls, and analysts warn the verdict could trigger fresh unrest.
The three-member tribunal detailed Hasina’s alleged role in orchestrating a deadly crackdown. She was accused of delivering inflammatory speeches that allegedly spurred coordinated attacks on unarmed student protesters and issuing direct orders, including the use of lethal weapons, drones, and helicopters, to “exterminate” demonstrators.
The court held Hasina responsible for killings, torture, disappearances, and arson carried out by state forces, noting her failure to hold perpetrators accountable. The tribunal emphasised that these attacks were “directed against the civilian population” and were “widespread and systematic,” meeting the legal definition of crimes against humanity.
“Therefore, in the atrocities of killing and gravely injuring protesters, as aforesaid, accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina committed crimes against humanity by her incitement order and also failure to take preventive and punitive measures under Charge 1,” the tribunal said.
It added, “Accused Sheikh Hasina committed one count of crimes against humanity by her order to use drones, helicopters and lethal weapons under Charge number 2″.
The ICT, Bangladesh’s domestic war crimes court based in Dhaka, allows appeals to the Supreme Court. Hasina and her party denounced the tribunal as a “kangaroo court” and criticised the appointment of a state-appointed lawyer to represent her.
A February UN report estimated up to 1,400 deaths during the unrest, while the interim government’s health adviser cited over 800 fatalities and around 14,000 injuries. Hasina has disputed these figures and called for an independent investigation.
Ahead of Monday’s ruling, Hasina urged supporters not to be “nervous” and called for a shutdown. Security in Dhaka and nationwide was tightened to unprecedented levels, with thousands of soldiers, paramilitary forces, and police deployed.
Dhaka’s police chief Sheikh Mohammad Sazzat Ali issued a “shoot-on-sight” order against anyone attempting arson or attacks with crude bombs, following nearly 50 vehicle arson incidents and dozens of bomb explosions nationwide in the past week.
