Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death, declaring her responsible for ordering a violent state response to last year’s student-led demonstrations.
The unrest, which swept the country in 2024, resulted in an estimated 1,400 deaths, many of them caused by gunfire from security forces.
Hasina was tried in absentia, as she has been living in exile in India since being ousted from office. Her absence from the proceedings is now expected to put New Delhi in a difficult diplomatic position, though India is not seen as likely to hand her over.
Prior to the verdict, Hasina dismissed the process as a politically motivated trial, describing it as a “kangaroo court.”
Following the announcement, authorities increased security nationwide amid concerns about potential unrest. Reports of scattered protests emerged early in the day as news of the ruling spread.
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