Bangladesh Tribunal sentences former PM Sheikh Hasina to death over 2024 crackdown

The International Crimes Tribunal delivers its strongest verdict yet, convicting Sheikh Hasina and two former top officials for ordering a deadly crackdown on student protesters.

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) on Monday pronounced a death sentence against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, holding her responsible for ‘Crimes against humanity’ during last year’s student-led uprising that brought down her Awami League government. The judgment follows months of proceedings that examined allegations of murder, incitement and the use of lethal force against unarmed demonstrators.

The three-member bench, headed by Justice Mohd Golam Mortuza Majumder, also delivered verdicts against former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. While Kamal was convicted alongside Hasina, Mamun received a full pardon after admitting his role and assisting investigators.

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The tribunal concluded that Hasina ordered a nationwide crackdown on students after referring to them as “Razakars”, a term associated with wartime collaborators. The court said her remarks provoked widespread outrage, and prosecutors established that attacks on Dhaka University students were carried out by ruling party wings, including the Chhatra League and Juba League.

Judges stated that Hasina directed security forces to deploy drones, helicopters and lethal weapons to target protesters. Testimony from key witnesses and intelligence reports persuaded the tribunal that the repression was coordinated at the highest levels of government.

Hasina was convicted on three counts, including ordering killings, incitement and failure to prevent atrocities. The tribunal noted that her decision to flee Bangladesh in August 2024, along with Kamal, strengthened the case against them. She has been living in exile in India since defying tribunal summons.

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The charges stem from the “July Uprising” between July 15 and August 15, 2024, during which a UN report estimated that up to 1,400 people were killed. Prosecutors described Hasina as the chief architect of the crackdown, while her supporters maintain the case is politically motivated.

With the verdict delivered, Bangladesh remains tense. Shoot-at-sight orders have been issued in Dhaka, and security forces, including army and border guards, have been deployed across the country. India has not yet responded to Bangladesh’s request to extradite Hasina and Kamal.