Bangladesh tribunal sentences former PM Sheikh Hasina to death in crimes against humanity case

Sheikh Hasina is sentenced to death by a Dhaka tribunal over the 2024 crackdown, a verdict she rejects from exile as politically motivated

PGurus Newsdesk

November 17, 2025

Sheikh Hasina Gets Death Penalty, Dhaka Court Cites "Crimes Against Humanity"

Hasina rejects verdict from exile, calling the ruling politically driven

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death after finding her guilty of crimes against humanity linked to last year’s student-led uprising that led to the fall of her Awami League government. The three-judge panel, headed by Justice Mohd Golam Mortuza Majumder, delivered the verdict on Monday after months of proceedings.

Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun were all charged with ordering or abetting a nationwide crackdown on protesters. The court said the three “acted in connivance” to commit atrocities during the 2024 unrest.

While Hasina and Kamal were tried in absentia, Al-Mamun initially stood trial in person before turning approver. The tribunal pardoned him after he apologised and provided full disclosure to investigators.

The verdict — broadcast live across Bangladesh — triggered loud reactions inside the packed Dhaka courtroom. Judge Majumder said the evidence established that “all elements constituting crimes against humanity have been fulfilled”, adding that Hasina had been found guilty on three counts, including incitement, ordering killings and failure to prevent atrocities.

Hasina calls ruling “preordained”

Responding from exile in India, the 78-year-old former prime minister condemned the judgment, calling it “rigged”, “preordained” and the product of an “unelected government with no democratic mandate”. Hasina has been living in India since fleeing Bangladesh on August 4, 2024. She and her supporters maintain the charges are politically motivated.

The ruling comes months before Bangladesh is expected to hold its first national election since her ouster, scheduled for February 2026.

What the court said

According to the judgment, the Hasina government ignored student protest demands and escalated tensions by labelling demonstrators as “Razakars”, a term associated with wartime collaborators. The court said the remarks provoked mass outrage, particularly among young protesters.

The judges concluded that Hasina subsequently ordered the “elimination of protesting students”, citing witness accounts that Awami League affiliates — including the Chhatra League and Juba League — carried out attacks on Dhaka University students. The court also held that Hasina authorised the use of drones, helicopters and lethal weapons to track and disperse demonstrators.

The tribunal said Kamal and Al-Mamun facilitated these actions by enabling law enforcement agencies to use force and by failing to prevent abuses. The judges also stated that Hasina and Kamal’s abscondence contributed to the inference of guilt.

Charges and context

Hasina and her co-accused faced five charges, including murder, attempted murder, torture and other inhumane acts. A central allegation was that the former prime minister ordered the “extermination” of protesters during what has become known as the “July Uprising”. A UN Human Rights Office report estimated that up to 1,400 people were killed between July 15 and August 15, 2024, during the crackdown.

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam described Hasina as the “mastermind” behind the alleged crimes, while her supporters argue that the proceedings lack due process.

Extradition questions remain

Hasina’s extradition remains unresolved. The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has formally sought her return from India, but New Delhi has not commented publicly on the request. Kamal is also believed to be in India.

For now, the verdict adds a new layer of political uncertainty as Bangladesh heads toward a crucial election next year.

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