Bangladesh: Ousted Prime Minister Sentenced to Death
DHAKA, Bangladesh – Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her close aide were sentenced to death on Monday for their roles in a violent crackdown on student protests last year that resulted in numerous deaths and her removal from power.
The International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka issued the ruling, convicting Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan of using excessive force against demonstrators. Both were sentenced in absentia since they fled to India after the protests. India’s government has not yet agreed to extradite them, casting doubt on their potential execution or imprisonment.
Hasina was found guilty of several severe charges linked to the protests, including inciting violence and using military force against student activists. In addition to the death sentence, she received a lifetime prison term for her inflammatory comments and orders to eliminate protesters. A former police chief, who testified against Hasina, received a five-year prison sentence.
Reports indicate that over 800 individuals lost their lives and around 14,000 were injured during the protests that erupted in July and August of 2024. The United Nations later estimated that as many as 1,400 people might have died in the violence.
Response from Hasina and Supporters
In response to the verdict, Hasina described the trial as unfair. She claimed that she and Khan acted in good faith, attempting to protect lives. Hasina dismissed the charges as politically motivated and called for a national protest against the ruling.
Her Awami League party has announced a nationwide strike to protest the judgment. Hasina, who is 78 years old, has 30 days to appeal the verdict, but only if she returns to Bangladesh.
The country is still dealing with the aftermath of her removal on August 5, 2024. Political tensions have risen, marked by the emergence of hardline groups and ongoing human rights violations. Following her ousting, Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus was appointed head of an interim government and pledged to hold Hasina accountable.
Tensions Rising
Hashina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed, critiqued the ruling as a “joke” and claimed that the judicial processes would not withstand future legal challenges in Bangladesh.
Following the verdict, security across Dhaka was tightened, with armed forces deployed to maintain order. Protests simmered, and more than 300 demonstrators gathered in the Dhanmondi area, burning tires and clashing with police.
These protests started last year over a controversial job quota system, with countless lives lost amid intensified governmental oppression. The unrest only intensified in response, even after reforms were promised regarding the contentious quota system.
In the wake of these events, both the Bangladeshi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Yunus have urged India to extradite Hasina and Khan, emphasizing their legal obligations under existing treaties.
As protests in Dhaka continue, the situation remains tense, with the country grappling with the memories and consequences of last year’s turmoil.
