Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death in absentia by a special tribunal for her role in a violent crackdown on protests during the 2024 uprising.
The court found Hasina guilty of incitement, ordering killings, and failing to prevent mass atrocities, ruling that she bore responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of protesters.
Alongside her, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan was also sentenced to death, while a former police chief received a prison term after cooperating with the tribunal.
Hasina, who fled the country last year, has rejected the legitimacy of the trial, calling it politically motivated.
Her party, the Awami League, condemned the verdict, describing it as an attempt to sideline the party and its leadership.
The crackdown on the 2024 protests, which began as a student-led movement, quickly escalated into nationwide unrest, resulting in significant casualties.
Furthermore, the tribunal determined that state forces under Hasina’s direction engaged in widespread violence, including the use of armed police and other security personnel.
Also, the sentencing is expected to deepen political tensions in Bangladesh, with the Awami League warning of nationwide protests in response. Enforcement of the sentence remains uncertain as Hasina is currently living abroad.