Judges in Bangladesh will hand down a verdict Monday in the crimes-against-humanity trial of fugitive ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, accused over a deadly crackdown after her August 2024 ouster. She faces five charges, including failure to prevent murder, and could receive the death penalty if convicted; the UN says up to 1,400 people died in the crackdowns central to the case. The trial was held in absentia after Hasina refused to return from India, and authorities have tightened security across Dhaka ahead of the ruling as the country approaches elections expected in February 2026.
Verdict Due Monday in Crimes-Against-Humanity Trial of Fugitive Ex-PM Sheikh Hasina
Judges in Bangladesh will hand down a verdict Monday in the crimes-against-humanity trial of fugitive ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, accused over a deadly crackdown after her August 2024 ouster. She faces five charges, including failure to prevent murder, and could receive the death penalty if convicted; the UN says up to 1,400 people died in the crackdowns central to the case. The trial was held in absentia after Hasina refused to return from India, and authorities have tightened security across Dhaka ahead of the ruling as the country approaches elections expected in February 2026.
10:39 AM, 11/17/2025Politics
Verdict set for Monday in high-profile trial of former prime minister
Bangladeshi judges are scheduled to deliver a verdict on Monday in the crimes-against-humanity trial of fugitive former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, 78. The ruling is being watched closely ahead of the country’s first elections since her removal from power in August 2024.
Hasina defied court orders to return from India to attend the proceedings and was tried in absentia. Prosecutors have brought five charges against her, including allegations of failing to prevent murder — charges that, under Bangladeshi law, amount to crimes against humanity. If convicted, she could face the death penalty.
"Justice will be served according to the law," chief prosecutor Tajul Islam told reporters when the verdict date was set. He added: "We hope the court will exercise its prudence and wisdom, that the thirst for justice will be fulfilled, and that this verdict will mark an end to crimes against humanity."
The United Nations has reported that the crackdowns connected to the case killed as many as 1,400 people, a figure central to the prosecution's allegations. The trial has heard months of testimony alleging that Hasina ordered or enabled mass killings during a lethal crackdown on a student-led uprising that toppled her government.
Among Hasina's co-accused are former interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who is also a fugitive, and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who is in custody and has pleaded guilty. Hasina rejected the court's authority, called the trial a "jurisprudential joke," and declined to accept the state-appointed lawyer representing her.
Security and political context
Authorities have heightened security in Dhaka ahead of the verdict. Armoured vehicles ringed the court when the date was announced, and officials said nearly half of the city's 34,000-strong police force would be on duty, with checkpoints at key intersections.
Interim interior ministry chief Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said the government was prepared and saw no cause for public alarm. Still, the capital has experienced attacks this month involving crude explosive devices and petrol bombs targeting locations linked to the interim administration, public transport and religious sites.
Tensions also spilled into diplomacy: Bangladesh's foreign ministry summoned India's envoy, urging New Delhi to restrict Hasina's media appearances while she is in India.
Hasina has expressed regret for lives lost during the unrest but insisted a guilty verdict would be "preordained." As Bangladesh heads toward elections expected in February 2026, the trial and its outcome are likely to shape the country’s immediate political landscape.