In a historic and politically explosive verdict, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal on Monday sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death after finding her guilty of committing crimes against humanity during the massive student uprising that swept the country in 2024. The ruling marks one of the most dramatic political reversals in Bangladesh’s history, transforming a once-dominant leader into a convicted offender now facing the gravest of punishments from the very nation she ruled for more than a decade.
The tribunal’s judgment also convicted former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun on similar charges, holding them responsible for authorizing and executing a violent crackdown on unarmed student protesters that ultimately led to the collapse of the Hasina government.
A Verdict That Shook the Country
The judgment was delivered amid extraordinary security arrangements in Dhaka, with checkpoints, armed patrols, and surveillance drones deployed around the tribunal complex. The interim government, currently led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, had ordered the heightened security fearing potential protests or retaliatory attacks following the verdict.
For many Bangladeshis, the sentencing reflects a turning point in a tumultuous political chapter defined by unrest, authoritarian allegations, and unprecedented nationwide demonstrations. For others particularly Hasina’s supporters the trial has already been labeled politically motivated, deepening fears that Bangladesh may be entering another cycle of instability.
Yet the tribunal maintained that its decision was based strictly on documented evidence: orders issued, security force movements tracked, testimonies from victims, and dozens of verified incidents of lethal force used against unarmed youth.
Background: The 2024 Student Movement That Redefined Bangladesh
The 2024 student uprising began as a small protest against recruitment policies and rapidly evolved into a wave of nationwide demonstrations demanding democratic reforms, accountability, and an end to what many saw as years of increasingly authoritarian rule.
Amid charges that the government was manipulating institutions, curbing press freedoms, and weaponising agencies against dissenters, students emerged as the loudest voice of resistance. Social media amplified their message, drawing tens of thousands into the streets of Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna, and Rajshahi in scenes reminiscent of Bangladesh’s earlier pro-democracy movements.
What set the 2024 protests apart, however, was the intensity of the crackdown that followed.
Witnesses, videos, and human rights reports documented uniformed and plainclothes officers firing upon crowds, beating students, and conducting late-night raids on university hostels. Several prominent student leaders alleged torture in custody claims that later formed part of the prosecution’s evidence.
The clashes left dozens dead and hundreds injured. The spiraling violence crippled Hasina’s political standing and accelerated calls for her resignation. Under mounting public pressure and international condemnation, the military stepped in, and Hasina fled the country, seeking safe passage across the border.
Five Grave Charges: What the Tribunal Found
The tribunal found Sheikh Hasina guilty on five major counts, each categorized under international standards for “crimes against humanity.” Among these were:
1. Murders and Targeted Killings
The court held Hasina responsible for authorizing operations that resulted in the deaths of multiple unarmed student protesters. Evidence included command chain documents, intercepted communications, and testimony from officers who claimed the orders came from the highest level of the government.
2. Attempted Murders and Injury to Civilians
Prosecutors argued that security forces repeatedly used live ammunition, rubber bullets, and sound grenades on crowds that posed no lethal threat. The tribunal concluded that these actions amounted to attempted murders designed to instill fear and break the uprising.
3. Torture of Detainees
Several accounts from arrested students described beatings, electric shocks, and deprivation while in custody. Internal police memos and witness statements supported claims that such treatment was systematic rather than incidental.
4. Deployment of Lethal Weapons and Drone Surveillance
The tribunal highlighted orders for the use of military-grade arms, helicopters, and surveillance drones during civil protests. This was deemed excessive force, violating both domestic laws and international norms.
5. Specific Killings in Rangpur and Dhaka
Two incidents the Rangpur hostel raid and the Dhaka University night raid played a significant role in the conviction. Both were meticulously documented in the tribunal proceedings, with survivors recounting night-long operations that left several students dead.
By consolidating these findings, the tribunal declared that the actions constituted deliberate, coordinated, and targeted violence against civilians meeting the legal threshold for crimes against humanity.
Political Landscape: A Nation at Crossroads
The verdict has sparked intense debate across Bangladesh’s political spectrum. While many see the tribunal’s ruling as a necessary step toward justice and accountability, a sizeable section views it as a politically charged move that may further polarize the country.
Supporters of the interim government argue that this accountability was long overdue. “No leader, no matter how powerful, should be allowed to weaponise state institutions against their own citizens,” said a political analyst in Dhaka.
On the other hand, loyalists of the former ruling party allege that the verdict is part of a coordinated effort to erase Hasina’s political legacy. Several party members have claimed the evidence was manipulated and the timing of the trial orchestrated to weaken their base ahead of upcoming national reforms.
International Reactions: Shock, Concern, and Calls for Restraint
The global community responded swiftly. Human rights organizations welcomed the investigation but expressed reservations about the use of capital punishment, urging Bangladesh to reconsider the sentence.
Several South Asian governments issued carefully worded statements urging stability and respect for due process. Western nations, traditionally allies of Bangladesh, voiced concern over the civil unrest and called for calm.
India, which shares one of the longest borders with Bangladesh and has close political ties with the country, confirmed that it has received a request from Bangladeshi authorities to locate and return Sheikh Hasina. New Delhi has not yet publicly announced its stance.
Diplomatic analysts predict that India’s response could significantly influence regional stability in the coming months.
Security Tightened Across Dhaka
Following the verdict, Dhaka has been placed under layers of security. Roadblocks, checkpoints, and surveillance drones have turned several areas into quasi-restricted zones.
Officials from the interim administration stated that the measures are precautionary to ensure that no violent backlash disrupts the already fragile environment.
Universities, historically the epicenter of Bangladesh’s political movements, remained heavily guarded. Student bodies held vigils in memory of protesters who died in 2024, while many others expressed relief that the judiciary had “finally acknowledged the truth.”
What Comes Next for Sheikh Hasina?
With the death penalty pronounced, the next phase will involve appeals, diplomatic negotiations, and potential international involvement.
According to legal experts, Hasina’s defense team is expected to file an appeal with the Supreme Court. Should the appeal be rejected, the execution order may be carried out unless intervention comes through presidential clemency or international pressure.
Bangladesh’s constitution allows room for humanitarian reconsiderations, but given the severity of the charges, analysts remain uncertain about the likelihood of such outcomes.
A Defining Moment in Bangladesh’s Democratic Future
The sentencing of Sheikh Hasina marks a watershed moment in Bangladesh’s political history. It signals a decisive shift in the nation’s effort to reconcile with allegations of abuse of power and state violence.
For a country that has endured political swings, coups, and intense ideological battles, the verdict raises essential questions:
How will Bangladesh rebuild trust between its people and its institutions?
Can the interim government navigate the country through upcoming elections without deepening internal divides?
And will the conviction set a precedent for holding political leaders accountable or will it amplify political vendettas?
Only time will tell.
For now, Bangladesh finds itself at a delicate juncture. The nation must balance justice with stability, accountability with unity, and the lessons of 2024 with the hope for a more democratic future.
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