Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh, has been handed a death sentence by a special tribunal in Dhaka. The verdict, announced in November 2025, stems from her role in a brutal crackdown on a student-led uprising in 2024.
This development has shocked the nation and added another chapter to Bangladesh’s volatile political landscape.
The Uprising
In July and August of 2024, Bangladesh was rocked by a wave of student-led protests. The movement began over grievances related to the university quota system but quickly escalated into wider unrest.
The demonstrators accused the government of corruption, mismanagement, and suppressing dissent. According to the interim government’s health adviser, more than 800 people died and around 14,000 sustained injuries.
The United Nations later estimated that up to 1,400 people may have lost their lives in the crackdown. Hasina’s government responded with overwhelming force, using helicopters, drones, and lethal weapons.
Charges and Trial
Sheikh Hasina was tried in absentia by the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka. The tribunal, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, convicted her on five charges related to crimes against humanity.
These included incitement of violence, ordering killings, and failing to prevent widespread atrocities. In its judgment, the court noted that she had authorized and overseen the use of military-grade force against peaceful protesters.
The court handed down a death sentence on three of the counts, while another count resulted in life imprisonment.
In addition to Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan was also sentenced to death, and the ex-police chief, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, received five years in prison.
Verdict and Reaction
During the verdict reading, Justice Mozumder declared, “we have decided to inflict her with only one sentence – that is, sentence of death.”
The decision triggered a strong emotional response: in court, families of protest victims cheered, while outside, some people knelt in relief or prayed.
Hasina has strongly rejected the ruling. Speaking from exile in India, she called the tribunal “biased and politically motivated,” claiming she and her government acted to restore order and minimize loss of life.
She insisted she would have faced the charges in a fair and legitimate court, rejecting what she described as a “rigged tribunal.”
Legal and Political Implications
Legally, the sentence raises profound challenges. Because Hasina was tried in absentia, she must surrender within 30 days if she wants to appeal, according to tribunal rules.
But as she remains in India, it appears unlikely she will return or be extradited. India has so far declined to hand her over, complicating the enforcement of the verdict.
The death sentence is not only a legal judgement but a deeply symbolic one in Bangladesh’s fraught political context.
The interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, hailed it as a historic moment and a warning that no leader is above the law.
But critics, including international rights groups, have questioned the fairness of the trial and expressed concern about the use of capital punishment.
Public Impact
The verdict has polarized public opinion. Families of the protest victims feel it brings long-awaited acknowledgment and justice. According to Al Jazeera, some have called for Hasina’s extradition so the sentence can be carried out.
Meanwhile, the ruling has heightened political tension just months before national elections scheduled for February 2026. As reported by The Guardian, security has been tightened, and protests have already erupted in parts of Dhaka.
The death sentence may mark a turning point for Bangladesh. If carried out, it would remove one of its most powerful political figures permanently.
But whether the verdict will lead to Hasina’s return and a full enforcement remains deeply uncertain, given diplomatic and legal obstacles.
