Sheikh Hasina Sentenced to Death in Bangladesh Protest Trial

 

 

Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on November 17, 2025, sentenced ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia for crimes against humanity, convicting her of ordering a deadly crackdown on 2024 student protests that killed up to 1,400 people. Former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal also received the death penalty, while ex-police chief Benazir Ahmed got five years after testifying against them. The live-broadcast verdict in Dhaka sparked courtroom cheers from victims' families but drew Hasina's condemnation as a "rigged" and "politically motivated" sham by the unelected interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.

 

Hasina, exiled in India since fleeing in August 2024, rejected appeals without a democratic Awami League-inclusive government. Her banned party called a nationwide shutdown, fueling unrest with nearly 50 arson attacks, bomb blasts, and two deaths; police authorized "shoot-on-sight" orders. Dhaka's foreign ministry demanded her extradition from India, which "noted" the verdict but committed to Bangladesh's stability without committing.

 

The protests originated from quota reforms reserving 30% of jobs for 1971 war veterans' kin, escalating into clashes with Awami League student wings. Prosecutor Tajul Islam dubbed Hasina the "mastermind." On X, reactions split: supporters decried a "kangaroo court" and urged Indian protection, while victims' kin demanded justice. The UN welcomed accountability but regretted the death penalty, as elections loom in February 2026. Experts warn it could sideline Awami League, risking instability.

Key Takeaways (3 points):

 

• Hasina and ex-minister sentenced to death for 2024 protest killings; police chief gets 5 years as witness.

• Awami League shutdown sparks violence, arson; India urged for extradition but stays neutral.

• Verdict called sham by Hasina; UN regrets death penalty amid pre-election tensions.

 

Original Source: The Independent

 

 

 

 

Hard to argue against that sentence.......but it will never happen.