Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death: Bangladeshi court finds her guilty of student murders

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to death on Monday. The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Dhaka sentenced her to death for inciting murder and ordering murder, and life imprisonment for the remaining counts. The ICT had charged her in five cases.

The tribunal declared Sheikh Hasina the mastermind of the killings that took place during the July 2024 student protests. The second accused, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, was also found guilty of the murders and sentenced to death. The courtroom applauded as the sentence was announced.

The third accused, former IGP Abdullah Al-Mamun, was sentenced to five years in prison. Mamun is in custody and has become a government witness. The court ordered the confiscation of Hasina and Asaduzzaman Kamal's properties.

Hasina had fled to India after the coup.

Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman left the country after the coup on August 5, 2024. Both leaders have been living in India for the past 15 months.

Following the verdict, the Yunus government has demanded that the Indian government hand over Sheikh Hasina to Bangladesh. The Prime Minister's Office issued a statement saying that according to the extradition treaty between India and Bangladesh, it is India's responsibility to hand over the former Bangladeshi Prime Minister.

The court that Hasina established handed down the sentence.

The International Crimes Tribunal, which sentenced Hasina to death, was established by her in 2010. It was created to investigate and punish cases such as war crimes and genocide committed during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.

Although legislation was passed in 1973 to establish this tribunal, the process stalled for decades. Subsequently, Hasina established it in 2010 to prosecute the perpetrators.

Yunus said, "Do not engage in provocative or illegal activities."
The Yunus government issued a statement on the sentencing of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, calling it a historic decision. The interim government appealed to the public to remain calm, composed, and responsible.

The government specifically urged people not to engage in any kind of disturbance, provocation, violence, or illegal activities following the verdict.

The government has clearly stated that strict action will be taken against anyone attempting to create anarchy, disorder, or disrupt law and order.

Hasina said, "This decision is wrong and biased."
Sheikh Hasina stated that the verdict against her is wrong, biased, and politically motivated. She claimed that this decision was given by a tribunal run by an unelected government that lacks public mandate.

She said that people know that this entire case is not an investigation of real events, but an attempt to target the Awami League.

Hasina said that the police system has weakened under the Yunus government. The justice system has weakened, attacks on Awami League supporters and Hindu-Muslim minorities have increased, women's rights are being suppressed, and the influence of fundamentalists is growing.