Former PM convicted in absentia over violent 2024 crackdown; faces maximum punishment under international crimes law
A Bangladesh tribunal has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity, ruling in absentia.
The verdict was delivered by International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1), which found her guilty of charges including murder, torture, and “extermination” linked to her role in a brutal crackdown on a student-led uprising in July–August 2024. According to the tribunal’s decision, she could be hanged once she is arrested or if she returns to Bangladesh.
Key Details of the Case:
- The prosecution, led by Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam, had sought the death penalty, calling Hasina the “principal architect” of the massacre.
- Evidence included testimony, intercepted communications, and video footage to support claims she ordered the use of lethal force via helicopters, drones, and armed forces.
- Hasina did not attend the trial. She fled to India after massive unrest forced her ouster in August 2024.
Response & Reactions:
- Her political allies denounced the tribunal as “politically motivated,” calling the trial a “mockery of justice.”
- Meanwhile, the court’s ruling has ratcheted up political tensions ahead of next year’s election, with massive security deployed around Dhaka.
Related News : “Allah Gave Me Life, He Will Take It”: Sheikh Hasina’s Defiant Message Before Verdict
