Bangladesh's Ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sentenced to Death for Crimes Against Humanity
Sheikh Hasina, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, has been sentenced to death in absentia by the International Crimes Tribunal for her role in the violent suppression of student protests in 2024.
On November 17, 2025, Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia for crimes against humanity related to the suppression of student-led protests in 2024. The tribunal found Hasina guilty of ordering the use of lethal force, including helicopters and drones, against protesters, resulting in over 1,400 deaths.
Former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal received a death sentence, while ex-police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun was sentenced to five years in prison after cooperating with prosecutors.
Hasina, who has been in self-imposed exile in India since August 2024, denounced the verdict as politically motivated and expressed willingness to face charges in a legitimate court.
The verdict has heightened tensions in Bangladesh, with reports of bombings and arson attacks in Dhaka ahead of the announcement. The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has banned Hasina's Awami League party and plans to hold elections in February 2026, excluding her faction.
Hasina's son, Sajeeb Wazed, warned of potential violence if the party ban remains, stating that supporters would block the upcoming elections unless the ban is lifted.
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