Sheikh Hasina Sentenced to Death in Absentia
Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, was sentenced to death in absentia by the International Crimes Tribunal on Monday. This verdict follows a lengthy trial during which she was found to have ordered a violent crackdown on student-led protests back in 2024.
The decision stems from a United Nations inquiry, which highlighted the brutal nature of the July-August 2024 riots. These protests reportedly resulted in the deaths of around 1,400 individuals and left many more injured, marking one of the most severe instances of political violence since the Bangladesh war of 1971. The current caretaker government, headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has urged for calm and promises to address the unrest decisively while also seeking Hasina’s extradition from India, where she fled in August 2024.
“We have decided to give her only one sentence – death sentence,” remarked Judge Gholam Mortuza Mozumdar from the Dhaka court.
As the verdict was announced, families of the victims in the courtroom erupted in applause. Prosecutors indicated that there was concrete evidence of Hasina issuing orders to employ live ammunition against the protesters. India has stated its intention to “work constructively,” though it has not committed to extraditing Hasina.
In response to the ruling, Hasina, now 78 years old, decried the tribunal as “biased and politically motivated,” labeling it a “rigged tribunal.” Her Awami League party has also been barred from the upcoming elections scheduled for February.
Amid rising tensions in the lead-up to the ruling, security personnel have been stationed around government buildings and court facilities. Reports indicate that at least 30 crude bombs have gone off and vehicles have been set ablaze in recent days. Yunus has commented on the need to rebuild trust between the populace and institutions, emphasizing a tough response from the transitional government against any efforts to create chaos.
A UN report released earlier this year accused the government of widespread shootings and mass detentions of unarmed protesters, calling for accountability that aligns with international standards.
