Frontier Eye Desk
Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s Special International Crimes Tribunal on Monday sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia for crimes against humanity linked to the deadly crackdown on student-led protests in 2024.
Hasina, now in exile in India, was convicted of ordering mass killings and authorizing the use of drones, helicopters, and live ammunition against unarmed demonstrators.
The tribunal also sentenced former interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death and handed the ex-police chief a five-year prison term.
The verdict has intensified calls for India to extradite Hasina, who fled there after being ousted in August 2024.
The charges stem from the “July Revolution,” which erupted after the reinstatement of a controversial quota reserving one-third of government jobs for descendants of 1971 war veterans.
A UN fact-finding mission estimated nearly 1,400 deaths—mostly from state gunfire—between July 15 and August 5, making it the bloodiest political violence since independence.
Prosecutors presented extensive evidence, including over 80 witness testimonies, 14 volumes of documents, and secret recordings allegedly capturing Hasina ordering security forces to “use lethal weapons.” Families of victims, including relatives of slain protest icon Abu Sayed, testified to widespread torture and disfigurement.
Interim leader and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus called the ruling “historic,” saying it fulfilled a core pledge to deliver justice. His government has tightened security nationwide and renewed pressure on India to extradite Hasina and her co-accused.
Hasina rejected the verdict as “rigged” and “politically motivated,” insisting she is willing to face a “proper tribunal with fair standards.” The Awami League says the charges aim to dismantle the party.
International reactions were measured. India said it would “engage constructively,” though analysts say extradition remains unlikely. Human Rights Watch expressed concern over fair-trial standards and the use of in-absentia proceedings.
The verdict marks a dramatic turn in Bangladesh’s turbulent transition after Hasina’s 15-year rule, offering a sense of justice to many victims’ families while deepening political uncertainty ahead of the February 2026 elections.