Bangladesh Tribunal Sentences Ex-PM Sheikh Hasina to Death for Crimes Against Humanity

Dhaka: Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) on Monday handed down the death penalty to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, 78, after convicting her on three counts of crimes against humanity linked to the brutal suppression of last year’s student-led protests that ultimately toppled her 15-year Awami League government.

A three-judge bench chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder also sentenced former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and ex-Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun to death on identical charges. The court ruled that the trio had “acted in criminal conspiracy” to unleash lethal force across the country to crush the protests.

Hasina and Kamal were tried in absentia after being declared fugitives, while Mamun initially faced proceedings in person before becoming a state witness.

Delivering the verdict, the tribunal observed that instead of addressing the students’ legitimate demands, Hasina ridiculed the movement and branded protesters “Razakars” — a deeply offensive term in Bangladesh referring to pro-Pakistan collaborators during the 1971 Liberation War. The judges said this inflammatory rhetoric provoked nationwide outrage, after which Hasina allegedly ordered the “elimination” of demonstrators.

Witness testimony established that attacks on students, including at Dhaka University, were carried out by ruling party affiliates such as Chhatra League and Jubo League, acting on directives from the top.

The five original charges included murder, attempted murder, torture, and other inhumane acts. A UN human rights report estimates up to 1,400 people were killed between July 15 and August 15, 2024, during the violent crackdown dubbed the “July Uprising.”

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam hailed the verdict, calling Hasina the “mastermind and chief architect” of the atrocities. Supporters of the ousted leader, however, condemned the trial as politically motivated.

Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024, and remains in exile. The interim government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has formally requested her extradition, but New Delhi has not yet responded.

Security was tightened across Bangladesh ahead of the ruling, with shoot-at-sight orders issued in Dhaka against arsonists and bomb-throwers. Army, Border Guard Bangladesh, and riot police were heavily deployed around the tribunal premises, while streets in the capital remained largely deserted amid fears of unrest.

Also Read: Bangladesh: Death Penalty Sought for Ex-PM Sheikh Hasina in Crimes Against Humanity Case