Bangladesh Court Sentences Ex-PM Hasina to Death

International crimes tribunal in Bangladesh sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia for crimes against humanity last year.

The three-judge bench convicted Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan for incitement, ordering killings, and failing to prevent atrocities nationwide.

Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder said the accused committed crimes using drones, helicopters, and lethal weapons during the brutal crackdown on protesters.

Hasina, who fled Bangladesh in August last year, denied all charges, calling the tribunal politically motivated and a charade against her leadership.

The former PM has been living under protection in India, which has ignored repeated requests from Bangladesh for her extradition to face the tribunal.

Family members of killed protesters broke down in court as judges announced the death sentences for Hasina and her co-accused Khan.

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In a pre-recorded audio message, Hasina remained defiant, stating only Allah controls life and vowing to continue serving Bangladeshi citizens.

Dhaka implemented heightened security ahead of the verdict, with police, army, and paramilitary forces securing the tribunal and surrounding areas strictly.

A minor explosion near the court caused panic Monday, prompting authorities to seal roads and restrict access around the tribunal immediately.

The uprising began as a student-led protest but escalated into the nationwide “July Revolution,” challenging the15-year authoritarian rule of Hasina over Bangladesh.

Her tenure was widely criticised for corruption, enforced disappearances, torture, and violent suppression, resulting in UN-documented killings of up to 1,400 civilians.

The prosecution was a core promise of the interim government led by Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus, with Tajul Islam heading the case.