The tribunal declared that Hasina received the death sentence under the first charge.
Bangladesh entered a tense new chapter on Monday after a special tribunal delivered a historic verdict against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The court ruled that Hasina committed 'crimes against humanity' during the violent unrest that erupted across the country last year. Her conviction came after months of hearings, witness statements, and evidence presented by prosecutors.
The tribunal declared that Hasina received the death sentence under the first charge. This charge involved accusations of inciting violence, ordering killings, and failing to prevent atrocities during the state crackdown on mass protests. The court said the proof brought forward was strong and clearly linked her actions to the deadly events of 2024.
As the judges read out the detailed findings, they outlined each allegation separately. The tribunal stated that Hasina played a direct role in the violence that unfolded under her watch. The court said she used her authority to direct force and ignored warnings about escalating abuses.
During the live announcement, the judges explained the legal reasoning behind the ruling.
“Accused prime minister Sheikh Hasina committed crimes against humanity by her incitement order and also failure to take preventive and punitive measures under charge 1,” the court said.
The tribunal further added that her actions extended beyond incitement.
“Accused Sheikh Hasina committed one count of crimes against humanity by her order to use drones, helicopters, and lethal weapons under charge number 2,” the court added further.
These statements indicated that Hasina’s leadership decisions directly contributed to the excessive use of force against protesters. Prosecutors earlier told the court that the crackdown caused widespread deaths, fear, and displacement.
