DHAKA, BANGLADESH—In a historic and explosive ruling, a special tribunal in Bangladesh today sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death, convicting her of crimes against humanity for ordering the violent, deadly crackdown on the massive student-led protests, known as the July Uprising, that led to the collapse of her government last year.

The verdict, delivered by the International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) in Dhaka, marks the first time a former head of government in Bangladesh has been handed the death penalty for atrocities committed while in office.

The Verdict and Charges

The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, found 78-year-old Hasina, who was the country’s longest-serving leader, guilty on multiple counts related to the 2024 mass demonstrations.

The court held Hasina responsible as the “mastermind and principal architect” of the suppression, which a UN rights office estimated killed up to 1,400 people.

Sentenced to Death: Hasina was sentenced to death on three counts, including:

• • Ordering the deployment of drones, helicopters, and lethal weapons against unarmed protesters.

  • Directly leading to the killings of at least 12 protesters in specific areas like Chankharpul and Ashuliya.

  • Incitement and failure to prevent atrocities.

The verdict was delivered in a packed courtroom that reportedly erupted in cheers and applause from those present, reflecting the national mood for accountability following the brutal crackdown.

Fugitive Status and Co-Accused

Sheikh Hasina, who was forced to resign and flee the country on August 5, 2024, has been living in exile in India and was tried in absentia.

• Co-Defendant Sentenced: Former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who is also a fugitive, was also sentenced to death on similar charges of crimes against humanity.

• State Witness Pardoned: Former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun was the only defendant present in court. He received a lighter sentence of five years imprisonment after pleading guilty and providing material evidence as a state witness.

Hasina Denounces Verdict as ‘Biased’

Within hours of the sentence being announced, Sheikh Hasina released a statement from her undisclosed location, fiercely rejecting the ruling.

In a statement carried by international news agencies, Hasina called the verdicts “biased and politically motivated,” and condemned the court itself.

❝The verdicts announced against me have been made by a rigged tribunal established and presided over by an unelected government with no democratic mandate. They are biased and politically motivated.❞

— Former PM Sheikh Hasina

Her son and advisor, Sajeeb Wazed, previously warned that they would not accept the ruling unless a democratically elected government was in power and that the decision could intensify political unrest.

Tension and Security Clampdown

The high-stakes verdict comes just months ahead of parliamentary elections expected in early February. Ahead of the ruling, Bangladesh was placed under an unprecedented security blanket:

• Security Deployment: Army units, paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh, and riot police were deployed across Dhaka and major cities.

• “Shoot-at-Sight” Order: Dhaka Metropolitan Police issued an order to “shoot-at-sight” anyone involved in arson, bomb attacks, or attempts to harm security personnel or civilians.

• Political Unrest: Hasina’s now-banned Awami League party had called for a nationwide shutdown to protest the trial, leading to reports of arson and crude bomb explosions in the capital over the past few days.

The judgment is subject to appeal in the Supreme Court, but for now, it stands as a colossal victory for the victims of the July Uprising and a dramatic culmination of the anti-authoritarian movement that ended Hasina’s 15-year rule.