Bangladesh's former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has been sentenced to death after being found guilty of crimes against humanity for her role in the violent suppression of student protests that led to the downfall of her government last year.
The special tribunal ruled that Hasina, 78, was responsible for ordering a brutal crackdown on student-led demonstrations. The United Nations estimates that as many as 1,400 people were killed, most by security forces opening fire.
Tried in absentia, Hasina—who is currently living in self-imposed exile in India—was convicted of multiple charges, including murder, torture, extermination, and other inhumane acts.
One of the judges stated during the verdict that Hasina "committed crimes against humanity through her incitement, directives, and failure to punish the offenders." The court said it was “crystal clear” that she encouraged party loyalists to violently suppress the protests.
The initial protest movement, sparked by civil service job quota reforms, escalated into a nationwide call for Hasina’s resignation. The tribunal heard that up to 1,400 people died and about 25,000 were injured during the unrest, according to UN figures.
Hasina faced five formal charges, including incitement to murder, ordering executions of protestors, and the deployment of lethal weapons, drones, and helicopters against civilians. She has denied all allegations.
Hasina governed Bangladesh from 2009 until her ousting in 2024, and her conviction comes amid growing fears of political instability ahead of the national elections scheduled for February.
Her legal team has criticized the trial as unfair and has appealed to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, flagging serious due process concerns.
The interim government has requested her extradition from India, but the Indian government has not responded publicly.
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