New Delhi: Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has handed former prime minister Sheikh Hasina a death sentence after finding her guilty of committing crimes against humanity during the student-led uprising that swept the country last year and eventually brought down her Awami League government. The verdict follows months of proceedings that examined allegations of a state-directed assault on protesters demanding reforms and accountability.
The tribunal determined that Hasina was responsible for ordering violent actions against students across multiple districts after tensions escalated in response to her remarks dismissing the agitation. According to the judgement, the former leader instructed security forces and allied political groups to target demonstrators, leading to widespread casualties during the peak of unrest between July and August 2024.
Two of her former aides, ex-home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, were also convicted on related charges. The court ruled that both played supporting roles in facilitating the use of drones, helicopters and deadly weapons during operations against protest sites. Mamun received a pardon after admitting his involvement and cooperating with investigators.
The tribunal noted extensive witness testimony describing coordinated attacks carried out by members of affiliated organisations on Dhaka University students and other demonstrators. Judges concluded that Hasina’s directives, combined with her failure to prevent escalating violence, made her culpable for mass atrocities. Her decision to flee Bangladesh ahead of the trial was cited as an indication of guilt.
Hasina, Kamal and Mamun originally faced five charges, including murder, attempted murder and torture. A central accusation involved an alleged order to “exterminate” protesters during what became known as the July Uprising. International assessments have estimated that more than a thousand people were killed in the month-long crackdown. Hasina, now 78, has been living in India since August 2024, while Bangladesh continues to pursue her extradition.
The verdict has heightened tensions nationwide. Security forces have been deployed across Dhaka, with authorities issuing strict directives to prevent potential violence. Streets around the tribunal were largely empty as residents and officials awaited the outcome of one of the country’s most consequential political trials.
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