Bangladesh: Outside Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death for crimes against humanity
Dhaka, Bangladesh/London-UK, November 26, 2025
Exiled Leader Convicted for Ordering Deadly Crackdown on Protesters
In a truly seismic development for political justice in Asia, Ousted Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death by the country’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), following her conviction for crimes against humanity.
The verdict, delivered earlier this month on November 17 in Dhaka, found the former Prime Minister guilty on multiple counts stemming from the brutal, state-orchestrated crackdown on student-led protests that ultimately toppled her fifteen-year rule in August 2024.
Tried in absentia—as the 78-year-old former leader remains in self-imposed exile in India—the ruling marks an unprecedented chapter in Bangladesh’s volatile political history, subjecting a former head of government to the ultimate penalty for abuses of power.
The judgment by the three-judge bench of the ICT, which also handed a death sentence to former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, focused specifically on the state’s lethal response to the massive July-August 2024 uprising.
The prosecution successfully argued that Hasina was the “mastermind, conductor, and superior commander” of a “coordinated and systematic violence” against unarmed civilians.
Key charges included incitement, ordering the killing of protesters, and failing to take measures to prevent punitive killings.
Evidence presented, including forensic analysis of audio recordings, purported to show Hasina directing security forces to employ highly aggressive measures, including the use of drones, helicopters, and live lethal weapons against student demonstrators.
International reports, including one from the United Nations, estimated the death toll from the crackdown could be as high as 1,400 people, an event now tragically known as the “July Massacre.”
The irony surrounding the tribunal’s decision is profound. The ICT-BD was originally established by Hasina’s own Awami League government in 2010 to prosecute war crimes committed during the 1971 independence movement.
However, throughout Hasina’s long tenure, the court faced consistent criticism from international human rights organisations for failing to adhere to fair trial standards and for allegedly being used as a political tool to target opposition leaders.
Now, the very judicial mechanism she helped institutionalise has delivered a capital sentence against her, underscoring the swift and dramatic reversal of political fortunes in Dhaka.
The immediate aftermath of the verdict saw a predictable spike in political turmoil. Supporters of the former leader’s Awami League party called for a nationwide shutdown to protest the decision, leading to increased security measures in Dhaka and elsewhere, with paramilitary border guards deployed to maintain order.
Conversely, Hasina’s long-time political rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), hailed the verdict as a triumph for justice and accountability after years of alleged authoritarian rule marked by enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
Internationally, the sentencing has created a complex diplomatic headache. Hasina, who fled Bangladesh to India ahead of her government’s collapse, remains in New Delhi.
Given that the court imposed a capital punishment—the death sentence—in a trial conducted entirely in absentia, the prospect of her extradition from India to face the penalty is highly improbable.
The United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) issued a statement reiterating its categorical opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances, while acknowledging that the verdict represents “an important moment for victims” seeking justice for the grave violations committed.
Legal experts have also raised concerns over the rushed nature of the process and the fundamental due process rights inherent in trials conducted entirely without the defendant present.
For the London-UK-based CJ Global, this case is highly significant, offering a stark lesson in political accountability.
The conviction of a former leader on charges of crimes against humanity demonstrates a global trend where high office no longer guarantees immunity from prosecution, despite the acknowledged political controversy surrounding the court itself.
The future of Bangladesh’s stability now depends on how the interim government manages the political division and the diplomatic ramifications of this historic ruling, particularly as it seeks to chart a course toward national healing and democratic elections.
Headline Points
Sentencing:
Ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia on November 17, 2025, by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).
Conviction:
She was found guilty of multiple counts of crimes against humanity linked to the deadly suppression of student-led protests (The July Massacre) in 2024.
Evidence:
The court cited evidence, including recorded conversations, that suggested Hasina ordered the use of lethal force, drones, and helicopters against unarmed civilians.
Status:
Hasina, who ruled for 15 years, remains in self-imposed exile in India, making the execution of the sentence politically and diplomatically complex.
Reaction:
The verdict was hailed by the opposition as a victory for justice but was protested by her Awami League party, increasing security tensions across Bangladesh.
