Dhaka, Bangladesh – In a landmark and controversial ruling, a Bangladeshi court today sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity stemming from a violent crackdown on protests in 2024. The verdict, delivered *in absentia* as Hasina remains in self-imposed exile in India, marks a significant escalation in the nationS fraught political landscape and raises serious questions about accountability for widespread violence [[1]]. the decision follows a months-long trial involving testimony from numerous witnesses concerning the deaths of as many as 1,400 people during the unrest.
A Bangladesh court on Monday, November 17, 2025, sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death after finding her guilty of crimes against humanity. The verdict comes amid ongoing political instability in the South Asian nation and raises concerns about the rule of law and accountability for past violence.
Judge Golam Mortuza Mozumder delivered the ruling in a crowded Dhaka courtroom, stating that Hasina was convicted on three counts, including incitement, ordering killings, and failing to prevent atrocities. “We have decided to give her only one sentence – the death penalty,” he said, according to the AFP news agency.
The prosecution had sought the death penalty for Hasina, who is currently a fugitive. The trial was held in absentia in Dhaka, as she has been living in India since last year and has refused to return to Bangladesh to face the charges.
Hasina stands accused of ordering a deadly crackdown on large-scale student-led protests. According to the United Nations, as many as 1,400 people were killed during the clashes that took place between July and August 2024.
“We demanded the highest punishment for her,” prosecutor Tajul Islam told reporters outside the court on Thursday, October 16. “For one murder, one death sentence is the rule. For 1,400 murders, she should have been sentenced 1,400 times – but as that is not humanly possible, we demanded at least one death sentence.”
Prosecutors described the 78-year-old Hasina as “the core of all the crimes committed during the July-August rebellion.”
Hasina was tried alongside two other former senior Bangladeshi officials: Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, the former Minister of Home Affairs, who is also a fugitive, and Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, the former Chief of Police, who has been detained and has pleaded guilty. Prosecutors also sought the death penalty for Kamal.
The trial began on June 1, with numerous witnesses testifying about Hasina’s role in ordering or failing to prevent mass killings. “The goal was to maintain power permanently – for herself and her family,” prosecutor Islam stated.
The verdict is likely to further polarize Bangladeshi politics and could have implications for regional stability. The case underscores the challenges of addressing past human rights abuses and ensuring justice for victims of political violence.
