In a landmark and deeply polarising judgment, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal on Monday sentenced ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death after finding her guilty on multiple counts linked to last year’s student-led uprising. The verdict — delivered amid extraordinary security in Dhaka — marks the most consequential political development in the country ahead of parliamentary elections expected in early February.

Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, reading the ruling to a packed courtroom, said Hasina had been “found guilty on three counts”, including incitement, order to kill, and failure to prevent atrocities. “We have decided to inflict her with only one sentence — that is, sentence of death,” he declared.

The proceedings were broadcast live on state-run Bangladesh Television, drawing nationwide attention to a case that has sharply divided public opinion, political parties and global observers.

Verdict delivered in Hasina’s absence after she fled to India

Hasina, 78, who fled to India in August 2024 after being ousted from power, was tried in absentia. Her party, the Awami League — now banned — has been barred from contesting the upcoming elections, raising fears that Monday’s verdict may further inflame political tensions.

The tribunal found Hasina and two of her top former officials — ex–police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal — guilty of orchestrating and enabling atrocities during the July–August 2024 student movement. Their case files run to more than 8,700 pages, containing seized evidence, references, and detailed victim lists.

The tribunal said Hasina had both ordered excessive use of force and failed to prevent mass killings during the crackdown. It also held her responsible for the use of drones, helicopters and lethal weapons against civilian protesters.

The verdict can be appealed before the Supreme Court. However, Hasina’s son and adviser, Sajeeb Wazed, told Reuters that they would only appeal once a democratically elected government — with the Awami League’s participation — assumes office.

What the judgment says

According to Dhaka Tribune, the tribunal concluded that Hasina committed crimes against humanity on multiple grounds:

  • Incitement and failure to take preventive measures
  • Ordering the use of drones, helicopters and lethal weapons
  • Authorising actions that led to mass casualties in Dhaka
  • Enabling the killing of student activist Abu Sayed
  • Allowing the incineration of bodies at Ashulia to destroy evidence
  • Overseeing coordinated killings of protesters in Chankharpul

The charges pertain to events between 15 July and 5 August 2024, when Bangladesh witnessed one of its most intense waves of student-led protests in decades.

Hasina calls proceedings a ‘politically motivated charade’

Speaking to Reuters from India last month, Hasina dismissed the case as a politically driven fabrication orchestrated by the interim government led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus.

“These proceedings are a politically motivated charade,” she said. She claimed she had not been given adequate notice of hearings or a fair opportunity to present a defence. “They are presided over by an unelected government which consists of my political opponents,” she added.

Hasina insisted she had no personal role in authorising lethal force and denied involvement in any of the alleged crimes.

Political landscape remains unstable under Yunus-led interim govt

Bangladesh, a country of 170 million people, has been governed by a temporary administration headed by Yunus since Hasina fled. While large-scale violence has subsided, political stability remains fragile.

Yunus has announced that the next parliamentary elections will be held in February, but confirmed that the Awami League will not be allowed to contest. This has triggered concerns about inclusivity, democratic rights and the legitimacy of the upcoming poll process.

Hasina has warned that millions of Awami League supporters may boycott the elections, potentially undermining voter turnout and confidence in the transition.

Security forces, including army personnel, were deployed across Dhaka on Monday, with checkpoints tightened near government buildings, media offices and the tribunal complex. Authorities fear that the ruling could ignite new rounds of unrest, especially in areas considered Awami League strongholds.

Uncertain road ahead for Bangladesh

The tribunal’s verdict has further deepened Bangladesh’s political fault lines. Critics fear that the ruling may trigger prolonged instability, as supporters of the former prime minister denounce the judgment as retribution. The government, however, insists that the trial followed due process under domestic war crimes laws.

With elections only weeks away, the nation’s political future appears increasingly uncertain. Diplomatic observers say the coming months will test Bangladesh’s ability to balance accountability, public sentiment and democratic norms amid one of the most volatile chapters in its modern political history.