Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death in absentia by a special tribunal, finding her guilty of crimes against humanity linked to a deadly student-led uprising in 2024. The verdict escalates political tensions ahead of national elections.
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On 17 November 2025, a special tribunal in Dhaka, Bangladesh, handed down a death sentence to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She was convicted in absentia of crimes against humanity, related to a brutal crackdown on a student-led uprising in 2024.
The court also sentenced former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death, while a former police chief received a 5-year prison term.
Background: What Led to the Trial
- The trial stems from the “July Uprising” of 2024, when massive student protests erupted across Bangladesh. The Daily Star
- According to a UN report, up to 1,400 people may have died during the crackdown, most of them shot by security forces.
- Hasina, who ruled Bangladesh for 15 years, was ousted in August 2024.
- After being removed from power, she fled to India, where she remains.
- The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, reconstituted the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-1) to prosecute her. Dhaka Tribune
Charges & Conviction
The tribunal charged Hasina and her co-accused on several counts: incitement, command responsibility, and failure to prevent mass killings.
Key points of conviction included:
- Orders to use lethal force: The verdict states Hasina ordered the use of drones, helicopters, and firearms.
- Superior command responsibility: She was found guilty for not taking preventive or punitive measures under her command. Wikipedia
- Crimes against humanity: The tribunal held that the acts were systematic and targeted, constituting crimes against humanity.
Verdict & Sentencing
- Sheikh Hasina: Sentenced to death.
- Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal (former Home Minister): Also sentenced to death.
- Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun (former Inspector General of Police): Received five years in prison — he turned state witness.
- The verdict was broadcast live, amid tight security in Dhaka.
Reactions
- Sheikh Hasina has strongly rejected the judgment, calling the tribunal politically motivated and a “kangaroo court.”
- Her party, the Awami League, called for a nationwide shutdown in protest.
- The interim government raised security across the country ahead of the verdict, deploying paramilitary forces and police.
- There are fears that the verdict could destabilize the country further, especially with parliamentary elections projected in February 2026.
Legal Implications
- This is a landmark case: a former head of government being sentenced to death for crimes against humanity in her own country.
- The verdict could be appealed, though Hasina must surrender or return to Bangladesh for that to happen.
- The ruling may set a precedent for command responsibility in domestic courts in the region.
Political Context & Risks
- The trial and verdict occur in a tense political climate, with the Awami League banned from participating in the next election.
- Some analysts warn that the death sentence may inflame public sentiment among Hasina’s supporters, which could lead to unrest.
- On the other hand, the interim government argues that accountability is essential to restore rule of law and legitimacy.
Human Rights Perspective
- Human rights organizations have long criticized Hasina’s prior rule for enforced disappearances, torture, and suppression of dissent.
- The tribunal’s decision may be interpreted by some as a measure of justice for victims, but by others as a politically motivated crackdown.
Final Word
The sentencing of Sheikh Hasina to death marks one of the most consequential political-legal episodes in Bangladesh’s history. It underscores deep divisions in Bangladeshi society and highlights the fraught challenge of delivering justice after mass unrest. As the country heads toward elections, the verdict’s impact on stability, reconciliation, and democratic legitimacy will be closely watched.