Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal on Monday sentenced former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to death after finding her guilty of “crimes against humanity” in connection with a sweeping security operation against student-led protests that toppled her government in 2024. The ruling concludes a months-long trial that examined whether state forces carried out a systematic campaign of lethal force against demonstrators.
What the court decided
The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Mohd Golam Mortuza Majumder, convicted Hasina on multiple counts including incitement, ordering lethal action against protesters, and failing to prevent atrocities. The judges said evidence showed coordinated action by government-aligned groups and security agencies to target students and other demonstrators. Alongside Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal was also handed the death penalty; a former police chief who cooperated with investigators received a different outcome after turning approver.
The charges in brief
Prosecutors had accused the accused of crimes including murder, attempted murder, torture and other inhumane acts tied to last year’s mass unrest. The indictment said orders were given — including use of aerial assets and heavy weaponry — to crush protests, and that measures were taken that prevented injured people from receiving timely medical care. International observers and human-rights bodies have said the crackdown led to large numbers of deaths, though exact tolls differ by source.
Trial in absentia and extradition push
Hasina, 78, who left Bangladesh for India in August 2024 amid escalating unrest, was tried in absentia after failing to return to face the court’s summons. The interim administration in Dhaka has said it will seek her extradition from New Delhi; India has so far indicated it will engage “constructively” but has not acceded to any transfer request. Supporters of Hasina call the proceedings politically driven and have denounced the verdict.
Security response and public reaction
Authorities beefed up security in Dhaka ahead of the verdict, deploying military and paramilitary units and warning against violence; police issued strict orders to prevent arson and attacks on public order. The Awami League — the party Hasina led — had earlier called partial shutdowns while crowds and relatives of victims gathered outside the tribunal on the day the judgement was read. International reactions were swift, with calls for restraint and concern over the use of the death penalty in politically charged trials.
What comes next
The sentence can be appealed under Bangladesh’s legal system, and legal teams for the defence have signalled they will pursue every available remedy. Meanwhile, Dhaka’s interim government has urged calm and said the rule of law must be allowed to take its course as the country faces heightened tensions ahead of national elections. Observers warn the verdict is likely to reshape Bangladesh’s politics and regional diplomacy in the weeks to come.
