Sheikh Hasina, the ousted prime minister of Bangladesh, was sentenced to death after being found guilty of crimes against humanity for the violent repression of last year’s student protests that led to the collapse of her government.
A panel of three judges from the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), Bangladesh’s national war crimes court, delivered its verdict on Monday, declaring that Hasina was responsible for inciting hundreds of extrajudicial executions carried out by law enforcement.
The courtroom, where some of the victims’ families were present, erupted in applause when the judges handed down the sentence.
“Sheikh Hasina committed crimes against humanity by inciting, ordering and not taking punitive measures,” said one of the judges in handing down the sentence.
It was “perfectly clear” that she “expressed her incitement to her party activists (…) and, furthermore, that she ordered the death and elimination of the protesting students”, stated the judges.
What began as a peaceful demonstration by students over employment quotas in the civil service turned into a nationwide push for Hasina’s resignation. The turning point was a government repression that caused the death of around 1,400 protesters, according to the UN human rights office. Close to 25,000 were injured, it was also recalled in court.
Hasina – who has been living in self-imposed exile in India and was not present at the Dhaka court – criticized the “biased and politically motivated” court.
The former prime minister was accused of inciting the murder of protesters, ordering the hanging of protesters and ordering the use of lethal weapons, drones and helicopters to suppress the disturbances. He has long denied the accusations.
“The verdicts announced against me were handed down by a manipulated court, created and presided over by an unelected government without a democratic mandate,” Hasina said in a statement shared by her party, the Awami League, on social media, following the verdict.
“I reject the ICT’s other allegations of human rights abuses, which are equally unproven. I am very proud of my government’s record on human rights and development,” she added.
Hasina ruled the South Asian country with an iron fist from 2009 until her ouster in 2024. Now, analysts fear the verdict could trigger a wave of political chaos ahead of national elections scheduled for February next year.
Last week, Hasina’s lawyers filed an appeal to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions due to “serious concerns about the lack of the right to a fair trial and due process.”
Hasina has been in self-imposed exile in New Delhi, the capital of India, since August 2024, after student protesters forced her and the Awami League political party out of power.
Bangladesh’s interim government has formally requested his extradition and that of Hasina’s former home minister, Asaduzzaman Khan, but New Delhi has remained silent on the request.
On Monday, government officials in Dhaka called on the Indian government to “hand over these two convicted individuals to the Bangladeshi authorities without delay”. “This is India’s responsibility, in accordance with the bilateral extradition treaty between the two countries,” Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
New Delhi “has recorded the verdict” regarding Hasina and will “engage constructively with all stakeholders”, according to a statement. “As a close neighbor, India remains committed to defending the interests of the people of Bangladesh, including peace, democracy, inclusion and stability in the country,” the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday.
“Take it down and burn it”
Dozens of protesters descended on the dilapidated residence of Hasina’s father – former prime minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman – in the Dhanmondi neighborhood of central Bangladesh ahead of Monday’s verdict.
Images from local media show the protesters – who arrived with two bulldozers – setting fire to the street. Some shouted, “Take him down and burn him,” referring to the Hasina family’s dynastic hold on power. The army and police forces charged the crowd with batons, according to the videos released.
Others welcomed the verdict as a call for celebration, with students from the prestigious Dhaka University organizing a joyous rally and distributing sweets.
Security was reinforced, with armored vehicles and officers with riot shields placed around the court, and police, border guard and rapid action teams placed near the main government buildings.
Protesters gather in front of the demolished residence of former Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina’s father, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Monday. Ahadul Karim Khan/AP
On Sunday, Hasina’s son told Reuters that her party’s supporters would block next year’s elections if the ban on her party was not lifted, warning that protests could turn violent.
“We will not allow elections to be held without the Awami League,” he said. “Our protests will become stronger and stronger and we will do whatever it takes. Unless the international community does something, there will likely end up being violence in Bangladesh before these elections, there will be clashes.”
Hasina’s political journey is a story of tragedy, exile and power, inextricably linked to the history of her native country. Under his leadership, Bangladesh entered an era of significant economic development, albeit accompanied by accusations of corruption, democratic backsliding, authoritarianism and human rights violations.
A life in politics
The eldest daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, founding leader of Bangladesh, her political life began early, when she witnessed the struggle for Bengalis’ autonomy from Pakistan.
Following a 1975 military coup, in which her father, mother and three brothers were murdered, Hasina and her sister were forced into exile. She returned to Bangladesh in 1981 to lead her father’s Awami League and, after years of political opposition, became prime minister when the party won the 1996 elections.
He served one term and returned to power in 2008, governing Bangladesh with his Awami League until last year.
Bangladesh has seen strong economic growth during Hasina’s tenure, but human rights organizations have warned that her government is moving towards a one-party system. Critics were concerned about increasing reports of political violence, voter intimidation and harassment of media and opposition figures.
During its period in power, human rights groups claim that the government used the cybersecurity law to repress freedom of expression online, arresting journalists, artists and activists, with cases of arbitrary detention and torture reported.
However, Hasina managed to resist many previous protests against her government, which erupted mainly during the elections.
That changed last year, when the Gen Z-led revolution toppled their power.
Many of his family members, as well as prominent party leaders and former ministers of his government, also reside outside Bangladesh.
Hasina’s supporters consider the court case to be politically motivated and designed to remove her from the political scene. The Awami League party has been banned from carrying out political activities while cases against Hasina and party leaders continue.
On the other hand, the provisional government, led by Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, claims that these trials are an essential step towards reestablishing accountability and public trust in the country’s democratic institutions.
