Ousted Bangladesh Leader Sheikh Hasina Sentenced to Death for Crimes Against Humanity Over Deadly Protest Crackdown

Ousted Bangladesh Leader Sheikh Hasina Sentenced to Death for Crimes Against Humanity Over Deadly Protest Crackdown

Bangladesh’s ousted prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has been sentenced to death for crimes against humanity over her government’s violent response to last year’s student-led protests an uprising that ultimately forced her from power.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Dhaka delivered the verdict on Monday after a months-long trial held in Hasina’s absence. The former leader has been living in exile in India since July 2024, when mass demonstrations toppled her 15-year rule.

Prosecutors accused Hasina of authorising lethal force against protesters demanding the abolition of government job quotas a movement that later evolved into a sweeping anti-government revolt. Nearly 1,400 people were killed during the unrest, which UN investigators have said could amount to “crimes against humanity.”

The tribunal found Hasina responsible for allowing security forces to use deadly weapons, arbitrary arrests, torture and “deliberate maiming.” Audio recordings verified by BBC Eye earlier this year, in which Hasina is heard approving the use of “lethal weapons,” were played in court as evidence.

Hasina has rejected all charges, calling the tribunal “biased and politically motivated.” In a five-page statement released after the verdict, she accused Bangladesh’s interim government of using the trial to “nullify the Awami League as a political force,” insisting she was proud of her human rights record and would face her accusers “in a proper tribunal.”

Her fall in 2024 cleared the way for Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to lead an interim government. Since then, Bangladesh has grappled with political turmoil, including bomb attacks and arson in Dhaka in the days leading up to Monday’s judgment. At least one explosion was reported on the morning of the verdict.

Families of victims have long demanded harsh penalties.

Ramjan Ali, whose brother was killed during the protests, called for “exemplary punishment,” while widow Lucky Akther said the sentence should be carried out “before the election” so that families could “find peace.”

The Awami League was banned in May, and parliamentary elections are scheduled for February 2026. Analysts say the conviction deepens political divisions that have persisted since Hasina’s ouster. Rights activist Shireen Huq argued that despite the verdict, “anger against Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League has not subsided,” noting the lack of remorse shown by the former leadership.

Journalist David Bergman said the severity of the conviction may make it harder for the Awami League to regain political legitimacy unless it distances itself from Hasina and the old guard.

Bangladesh is now facing a diplomatic standoff with India, where Hasina has taken refuge. Dhaka has formally requested her extradition, but New Delhi has shown no indication it intends to comply. Hasina's lawyer, Mohammad Amir Hossain, expressed disappointment at being unable to file an appeal due to her absence.

Hasina was tried alongside her former home minister and police chief. Though the verdict brings a measure of closure for some families, observers warn it may inflame tensions further in an already volatile political landscape.