DHAKA, Bangladesh (FN) — Bangladesh’s ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to death Monday after a special tribunal in Dhaka convicted her of crimes against humanity tied to last year’s deadly crackdown on student protests.
The ruling marks a dramatic downfall for the longtime leader, who governed Bangladesh for more than 15 years before being forced into exile in India. Hasina, 78, was tried in absentia and has denied all charges.
The tribunal found Hasina guilty of ordering lethal force against demonstrators during the July 2024 student uprising, which began as a grassroots movement demanding reforms in education, jobs, and governance. Protesters accused her government of corruption, nepotism, and suppressing dissent.
The protests quickly escalated into one of the largest uprisings in Bangladesh’s recent history. Security forces opened fire on crowds, used tear gas, and carried out mass arrests. Rights groups estimate more than 1,000 people were killed in the violence, with thousands more injured. The United Nations later described the crackdown as “a massacre of young voices demanding change.”
Former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal was also sentenced to death in the same case. Prosecutors argued that both men oversaw a campaign of repression that amounted to crimes against humanity.
The verdict was delivered by the International Crimes Tribunal, operating under the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. Judges described the ruling as a “historic step toward accountability” in a country long scarred by political violence.
Hasina’s party, the Awami League, immediately denounced the trial as politically motivated. Party officials called the proceedings a “show trial” and urged supporters to take to the streets in protest.
Security forces in Dhaka were placed on high alert following the announcement. Authorities deployed extra police and paramilitary units across the capital to prevent unrest, warning that violent demonstrations would be met with firm response.
India now faces diplomatic pressure as Hasina remains in exile on its soil. New Delhi has so far resisted extradition requests, but the verdict is expected to intensify calls for her return to Bangladesh. Analysts say India is caught between honoring international law and avoiding domestic political fallout.
International reaction has been mixed. Human rights groups welcomed the ruling as a rare instance of accountability for state violence, while others questioned the fairness of a trial conducted under an unelected interim government. The European Union urged Bangladesh to ensure due process, while the United States called for restraint in handling protests.
For many in Bangladesh, the sentence represents the end of an era. Once celebrated as a champion of democracy, Hasina’s legacy is now overshadowed by accusations of brutality. “She gave us hope once, but she destroyed it with bullets,” said Rahima Akter, a Dhaka university student whose brother was killed in the protests.
Legal experts note that Hasina’s lawyers may still appeal, though the interim government has signaled it will pursue extradition from India. Whether the sentence can be enforced remains uncertain, but the symbolic weight of the ruling is already reshaping Bangladesh’s political landscape.
In Bangladesh, justice has spoken — and history will remember Sheikh Hasina not for her power, but for her crimes.
