Guwahati, Nov 17: Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal–1 (ICT-1) on Monday handed former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a death sentence after finding her guilty of ordering a deadly crackdown on a student-led uprising last year.
The special tribunal also sentenced former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun on the same charges of crimes against humanity. All three were convicted in a high-security courtroom in Dhaka, with Hasina and Kamal tried in absentia after fleeing to India in August 2024.
According to the tribunal, Hasina’s government ignored students’ demands during the 2024 uprising and instead sought to discredit the protesters by labelling them “Razakars”, a deeply derogatory term in Bangladesh. Prosecutors said they presented evidence of Hasina’s direct command to use lethal force to suppress the movement during the July–August unrest.
Hasina, who has strongly rejected the charges, termed the verdict “biased, politically motivated and rigged”. Her now-banned Awami League has dismissed the trial as a “kangaroo court”. A state-appointed lawyer representing her argued that the prosecution failed to establish any credible evidence and pleaded for her acquittal.
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam described Hasina as the “mastermind and principal architect” of the alleged atrocities, but her supporters insist the proceedings were engineered to eliminate her from Bangladesh’s political landscape ahead of national elections.
Tensions have been escalating across Bangladesh in the run-up to the verdict. Over the past few days, at least 30 crude bombs were detonated and 26 vehicles set on fire in scattered incidents across the country. No casualties were reported.
Hasina fled Bangladesh on August 4, 2024, at the peak of the turmoil and has since been residing in India. Kamal is also believed to be in India. The interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, has formally sought Hasina’s extradition, though New Delhi has not issued any response so far.
Mamun initially faced trial in person but later turned approver during the proceedings.
The verdict is expected to deepen the country’s political uncertainty, with fears of renewed unrest as Bangladesh heads toward national elections.
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