A Bangladeshi special court today condemned former prime minister Sheikh Hasina for her part in the student revolt of 2024. The court found that Sheikh Hasina had committed “crimes of humanity”, including the incitation of violence, and ordered security forces to murder protestors. Hasina is still in India, where she remains exiled.
The decision has been received with mixed feelings across the country. The decision provides closure and justice to the families who have lost loved ones during protests. The verdict is a source of relief and joy for families who lost loved ones due to brutal police actions, but it brings uncertainty to Sheikh Hasina,” said a victim’s family spokesperson. The verdict against Sheikh Hasina marks a major moment in Bangladesh’s effort to deal with the violence that marked the end of her tenure as prime minister.
The tribunal court charged Sheikh Hasina, presided over by Judge Golam Mortuza Mozumder. She was found guilty of three charges, including inciting violence and issuing killing orders, according to the judge. The Awami League chief was initially given a life sentence, but the seriousness of additional charges caused the court to pass the death penalty.
The court, in addition to Sheikh Hasina’s sentence, also gave a death penalty to Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. Separately, the former Inspector General Chowdhury Al-Mamun was given a much more lenient five-year prison sentence. In reducing the sentence, the court pointed to his cooperation in the investigation as well as his guilty plea from July. Her future is uncertain as Sheikh Hasina’s presence in India makes it difficult to execute the ruling.
