DHAKA – Bangladesh’s ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death for crimes against humanity. A special tribunal found her guilty of violent crackdown on student protests last year, which UN says killed up to 1,400 people, mostly by gunfire from security forces.
Hasina, who fled to India, was tried in absentia. She called verdict politically motivated as ruling raises diplomatic tensions with New Delhi, though extradition is unlikely, and security across Dhaka and other cities has been tightened amid protests. The court cited a series of shocking abuses and misdeeds that culminated in her downfall.
Muzzling Freedom of Expression
Digital Security Act of 2018 became a tool to silence critics, with journalists and activists like Mustaq Ahmed, who died in custody in 2021, and Shafiqul Islam Kajol, imprisoned for criticizing officials, as high-profile victims. Controversial elections in 2014 and 2018 further weakened democratic institutions, suppressing opposition voices and fueling widespread outrage.
Systematic Human Rights Violations (2009–2024)
Over her long rule, Hasina’s regime allegedly orchestrated enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings targeting political opponents, journalists, and dissenters. International watchdogs reported these abuses were state-sanctioned and methodical, painting a grim picture of authoritarian control.
Massive Corruption
Post-regime investigations revealed $5 billion embezzled from the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant alone, with billions more laundered through offshore accounts. Government estimates suggest nearly $240 billion vanished during her tenure, resulting in 124 family-linked bank accounts frozen.
Secret Prisons and Political Executions
Authorities uncovered over 500hidden detention facilities, dubbed “ayanghars,” where political prisoners were allegedly held and executed. Some near Dhaka airport were bricked up to erase evidence, exposing the dark underbelly of Hasina’s rule.
Mass Killing during July Protests (July 2024)
Hasina’s authorization of lethal force against student-led protests triggered what has been termed the “July Revolution.” Forensic experts confirmed a leaked audio in which she allegedly instructed security forces to “shoot protestors on sight.” Over 1,400 civilians were killed, and thousands more were wounded in a brutal crackdown that shook the nation.
Students Reject Hasina’s Appeal
Prime Minister Hasina called for calm, but students continued to demand her resignation. Demonstrators chanted against her leadership and set fire to the Bangladesh Television headquarters along with other government buildings. Despite a curfew and deployment of military forces, at least 32 people were killed and hundreds injured. The authorities also imposed an internet blackout to curb the unrest.
Supreme Court Decision July 21, 2024
Bangladesh’s Supreme Court ruled against reinstating job quotas, a move criticized as favoring Hasina’s administration. Protesters remained dissatisfied as their demand to remove reserved jobs for children of 1971 war “freedom fighters” was not met.
Bangla Army Takes a Stand August 2024
Large-scale clashes between protesters and government supporters claimed 68 lives, including 14 police officers. Former Army chief General Ikbal Karim Bhuiyan condemned the killings and called for the withdrawal of troops. Current Army chief Waker-uz-Zaman emphasized that the armed forces “always stood by the people.”
Leaders of the civil disobedience movement urged supporters to stage a “final protest” in Dhaka. Rising tensions and widespread demonstrations eventually forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and leave the capital.
Escape to India August 5, 2024
In first week of August last year, Hasina stepped down from her position and fled on a chopper with her sister, Sheikh Rehana, to India, arriving in Delhi via Agartala.
Prosection and Death Sentence – Nov 2025
Hasina has been convicted of crimes against humanity by Dhaka’s Special International Crimes Tribunal 1 and sentenced to death.
She faced five charges, including orchestrating mass killings, authorizing lethal force, and covering up crimes. She received two death sentences and a life term for failing to prevent the atrocities and hold perpetrators accountable.
https://pakobserver.net/bangladesh-court-convicts-former-pm-sheikh-hasina-for-crimes-against-humanity/
