Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity following a deadly crackdown on student-led protests last year. A three-judge bench of the country's international crimes tribunal found her guilty of incitement, orders to kill, and inaction to prevent atrocities as she oversaw the state-led crackdown.
The verdict, which was widely expected, was delivered without Hasina being present in court, a move that many saw as an attempt to circumvent due process. The prosecution had built its case on audio recordings of calls made by Hasina linking instructions from her office to the deadly street operations.
Human rights organizations have long accused Hasina's government of human rights abuses and corruption during her 15-year rule, which ended when a student-led uprising toppled her in August last year. Many have welcomed the verdict as a step towards justice for the victims of the violence, with one family member stating that it was "the only acceptable verdict" for their son who was killed by security forces.
However, not everyone is celebrating. Critics argue that the trial was rigged from the start and that Hasina's co-accused, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, received a lighter sentence due to his cooperation with the prosecution. Human rights groups have also expressed concerns about the use of capital punishment in the verdict.
As Bangladesh prepares for its first election since Hasina's ousting, her Awami League party has vowed to cause mass unrest in response. The opposition is also determined to fight back, as Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed stated that his mother would remain "safe" but was "upset, angry, outraged".
The Indian government, where Hasina is currently living under protection, has ignored requests for her extradition to face trial. The verdict is a significant blow to Hasina's claim of being a victim of a politically motivated trial, and many see it as a turning point in the country's transition towards democracy.
The verdict, which was widely expected, was delivered without Hasina being present in court, a move that many saw as an attempt to circumvent due process. The prosecution had built its case on audio recordings of calls made by Hasina linking instructions from her office to the deadly street operations.
Human rights organizations have long accused Hasina's government of human rights abuses and corruption during her 15-year rule, which ended when a student-led uprising toppled her in August last year. Many have welcomed the verdict as a step towards justice for the victims of the violence, with one family member stating that it was "the only acceptable verdict" for their son who was killed by security forces.
However, not everyone is celebrating. Critics argue that the trial was rigged from the start and that Hasina's co-accused, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, received a lighter sentence due to his cooperation with the prosecution. Human rights groups have also expressed concerns about the use of capital punishment in the verdict.
As Bangladesh prepares for its first election since Hasina's ousting, her Awami League party has vowed to cause mass unrest in response. The opposition is also determined to fight back, as Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed stated that his mother would remain "safe" but was "upset, angry, outraged".
The Indian government, where Hasina is currently living under protection, has ignored requests for her extradition to face trial. The verdict is a significant blow to Hasina's claim of being a victim of a politically motivated trial, and many see it as a turning point in the country's transition towards democracy.
. I think its kinda harsh to give death sentence without her bein there though...like how would she know whats goin on inside the courtroom? Maybe they should've just given her a life sentence or somethin'...but at least justice has been served, right? 
I hope everyone stays calm and peaceful during the election. We need more love and less drama in our politics...anyway, its nice to see human rights orgs makin' a difference 
, I'm so over these international courts trying to pass judgment on people from other countries while we're still dealing with issues here at home 
. Like, can't they just let Bangladesh figure out its own problems instead of imposing their will? And what's up with the fact that Hasina wasn't even present in court for her own trial? That's some dodgy stuff 
. I mean, I get it, she's guilty and all, but the way this verdict was handled feels super suspicious to me 
. And don't even get me started on the whole capital punishment thing... 
the politics around this are super messy, and its all so sad especially for the families who lost loved ones 
i just hope this verdict marks a real change in bangladesh's trajectory... we'll see how it all plays out 
... & can we pls talk about the Indian govts role here? Ignoring requests for extradition is like, super convenient for them... anywayz, now that Bangladesh is having its first election since Hasina's ousting things are gonna get interesting 
it's about time someone held Sheikh Hasina accountable for her actions. btw, have you guys heard about the new Samsung Galaxy S36? 
just pre-ordered mine and can't wait to try out its insane camera features 
. I'm with those who are saying that the trial was rigged from the start and that they're only doing this for show 
gotta say, 15 yrs on the job & still manages to get sentenced to death lol, I mean, what's next? A lifetime supply of prison time for just being in charge 
. seriously though, this verdict is a big deal for Bangladesh, hope it brings some closure for the families of those who lost loved ones. but let's be real, hasina's gonna be fine wherever she goes, living large under protection in India 
- you know, where nothing is as it seems. The way Hasina was sentenced to death without being present in court is just wild. I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing for Bangladesh, but one thing's for sure, it's definitely going to make the situation super interesting before the election. I mean, what's up with Asaduzzaman Khan getting a lighter sentence? It just doesn't add up 
. This verdict is a big deal for Bangladesh's future, and only time will tell what happens next 
.
It just feels like a cycle of violence and I'm not sure how Bangladesh is gonna break free from all this. The Indian government ignoring her extradition request doesn't help either... it's just a big mess 
.
. I mean, who wouldn't want accountability for crimes against humanity? 
It's not about the politics; it's about making sure the victims' voices are heard. 
The fact that the prosecution built its case on audio recordings of her calls is just chilling 
.