Hasina’s Son Warns Tribunal May Seek Death Sentence for Exiled PM, Threatens to Block 2026 Vote

Hasina’s son says tribunal will likely convict ex-PM and may impose death sentence

Sajeeb Wazed, son of ousted Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, told Reuters that a special tribunal is likely to convict his mother and could sentence her to death. He said Hasina, 78, is safe in exile in India and warned that supporters of her Awami League party would try to block the February 2026 national election if the party’s ban is not lifted.

Wazed made the remarks in Washington, DC, a day before a Dhaka court was due to broadcast its verdict against Hasina on charges that she oversaw a deadly crackdown on protesters in 2024. The trial is before Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal; Hasina denies wrongdoing and says the proceedings are politically motivated.

"We know exactly what the verdict is going to be. They’re televising it. They’re going to convict her, and they’ll probably sentence her to death," Wazed said. "What can they do to my mother? My mother is safe in India. India is giving her full security."

Hasina has been living in New Delhi since fleeing Bangladesh in August 2024, when large student-led protests ended her 15-year tenure. A United Nations report estimated that up to 1,400 people were killed during the 2024 demonstrations, most by security forces using live ammunition.

Wazed warned that Awami League supporters would not allow elections to proceed without the party. "We will not allow elections without the Awami League to go ahead. Our protests are going to get stronger and stronger, and we will do whatever it takes," he said, adding that "unless the international community does something, eventually there’s probably going to be violence in Bangladesh before these elections."

Government response and security situation

The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, suspended the Awami League’s registration in May and barred its political activities, citing national security concerns and ongoing war-crimes investigations into senior figures. A government spokesperson told Reuters that any incitement to violence by exiled political figures is "deeply irresponsible and reprehensible."

Dhaka has seen a recent surge in violence: crude bombs exploded across the city, dozens of buses have been torched, and authorities report multiple blasts and detentions of Awami League activists accused of sabotage. Schools in Dhaka and other major cities shifted to online classes. The government has deployed more than 400 border guards, tightened checkpoints and restricted public gatherings to contain unrest.

Rights concerns and international context

Analysts and rights groups have raised concerns about the interim government's rights record. South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman told Al Jazeera that Hasina "remains a lightning rod in Bangladeshi politics," and warned that an online speech from exile can provoke violent reactions. Bangladeshi rights group Odhikar documented at least 40 alleged extrajudicial killings between August 2024 and September 2025, despite government pledges to curtail state violence. Security units previously accused of abuses under Hasina — including the Rapid Action Battalion — remain operational.

Yunus has pledged to hold national elections in February 2026 alongside a referendum on constitutional reforms. With heightened tensions and competing claims of legitimacy, the coming months could determine whether Bangladesh manages a peaceful return to electoral politics or slides into further unrest.