Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
KATHMANDU: A court in Dhaka has sentenced ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia for “crimes against humanity” related to a brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters during last year’s student-led uprising, multiple international news outlets report.
According to the International Crimes Tribunal‑1, Hasina was found guilty on key charges including incitement, ordering killings, and failing to prevent punitive violence.The tribunal said her government used drones, helicopters and lethal force against demonstrators.
The verdict comes amid high political tension. Hasina, who fled to India in August 2024, has dismissed the proceedings as politically motivated.
Her sons, supporters, and the wider Awami League have warned of mass unrest if she is not treated fairly — her son Sajeeb Wazed has already threatened protests ahead of next year’s elections.
Prosecutors, led by Mohammad Tajul Islam, called Hasina the “central orchestrator” of the violence.
They said the death toll in the July–August 2024 uprising reached around 1,400, citing a UN estimate. In addition to Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal was also sentenced to death, while ex-police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al‑Mamun received a five-year prison term.
Verdict Fuels Deep Political Fault Lines
Security has been tightly enforced across Dhaka following the verdict. The interim government — led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, which assumed power after Hasina’s ouster — denies the trial is politically driven.
Human rights groups and some UN observers have raised serious concerns. In October 2024, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called for a full, independent investigation into the reported killings and state violence during the protests.
Implications for Bangladesh’s Future
The verdict is likely to further deepen political polarization in Bangladesh, particularly ahead of the February 2026 general election.
Supporters of Hasina and the Awami League have threatened to boycott the elections if the party remains banned.
International pressure may grow for a transparent legal process. Legal observers warn that a politicized tribunal risks undermining the credibility of Bangladesh’s justice system.
Hasina, now in exile, has not yet publicly responded to the death sentence but remains a highly polarizing and influential figure in Bangladesh’s volatile political landscape.
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