Sheikh Hasina Sentenced to Death by Bangladeshi Tribunal Over Crackdown That Toppled Her Government

Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death over 2024 crackdown

Sheikh Hasina, the ousted prime minister of Bangladesh, has been sentenced to death by a three-judge panel of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) after being convicted of crimes against humanity for her role in the violent suppression of student-led protests last year. The court found Hasina responsible for inciting hundreds of extrajudicial killings by security forces; she was convicted on five counts that included allegations of ordering lethal force and other measures to crush demonstrations.

Hasina has been living in self-imposed exile in New Delhi since August 2024 and was not present in the Dhaka courtroom when judges read the verdict. Relatives of victims in the courtroom applauded as the sentence was announced.

"Sheikh Hasina committed crimes against humanity by her incitement, order and failure to take punitive measures," a judge said, adding it was "crystal clear" she had ordered measures to eliminate protesting students.

The ruling has immediate political and diplomatic implications. Bangladesh's interim government has formally asked India to extradite Hasina under existing bilateral arrangements; New Delhi has so far said it will "engage constructively with all stakeholders" and has not publicly agreed to hand her over. The UN human rights office (OHCHR) said the verdict is an "important moment for victims" but reiterated its opposition to the death penalty and underscored that proceedings for international crimes must meet international standards of due process and fair trial guarantees.

Background and reactions

The protests began as peaceful demonstrations over civil service job quotas and escalated after a government crackdown that, according to OHCHR testimony cited in court, may have killed up to 1,400 people and injured as many as 25,000. The unrest ultimately forced Hasina and her Awami League party from power in 2024.

Hasina vehemently rejected the verdict, calling the ICT "rigged" and politically motivated in a statement shared by her Awami League. Her lawyers have appealed to the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, citing concerns about fair trial rights and due process.

On the streets of Dhaka, reactions were deeply polarized: some celebrated with rallies and sweets at Dhaka University, while others attacked symbols associated with the Hasina family. Security was tightened around key government sites after reports of Molotov cocktails and other violence ahead of the verdict.

Analysts warn the sentence could further destabilize Bangladesh ahead of national elections expected in February next year. Awami League figures have threatened to block any vote held while the party remains banned; the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus argues that prosecutions are necessary to restore accountability and public trust.

Legacy

Hasina's long tenure — from her first term in the 1990s to a dominant stint from 2009 until her ouster in 2024 — combined notable economic growth with recurrent accusations from rights groups of democratic backsliding, media suppression and human rights abuses. The verdict marks a dramatic legal and political turning point for a leader whose life and career are closely tied to Bangladesh's modern history.