Sheikh Hasina Sentenced To Death For Crimes Against Humanity
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — A special court sentenced Bangladeshis Ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina He was sentenced to death on Monday on charges of crimes against humanity, including last year’s mass uprising that killed hundreds of people and ended his 15-year rule.
The court also sentenced former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan to death in the case, while a third suspect, a former police chief, was sentenced to five years in prison for testifying against Hasina and pleading guilty.
The discussion of the court’s decision in the capital Dhaka was broadcast live.
The interim government increased security ahead of the decision; paramilitary border guards and police were deployed in Dhaka and many other parts of the country.
Hasina’s Awami League party called for a nationwide shutdown to protest the decision.
Hasina and Khan in exile in India tried in absentia.
Both Hasina and her party called the court a “kangaroo court” and condemned the state’s appointment of a lawyer to represent her.
Hasina and Khan faced charges of crimes against humanity for killing hundreds of people during the student-led uprising in July and August 2024. The United Nations said in a February report that as many as 1,400 people may have died in the violence, while the country’s health adviser to the interim government said more than 800 people were killed and about 14,000 injured.
The court made the decision on Monday last week for delivering the verdict Reports of crude bomb explosions and arson led to disruptions in classes and transport across the country following a “lockdown” called by Hasina’s party.
Before Monday’s court ruling, the former ruling party called for another shutdown, while Hasina appealed to her supporters in an audio message not to be “nervous” about the decision.
The decision came after local media reported fresh crude bomb explosions in Dhaka on Sunday, including outside the home of an advisor equivalent to a Cabinet minister.
Meanwhile, Dhaka police chief Sheikh Mohammed Sazzat Ali issued a “shoot on sight” order if anyone attempted to burn vehicles or throw crude bombs. The directive comes as nearly 50 arson attacks and dozens of crude bomb explosions, mostly targeting vehicles, were reported across the country last week. According to local media reports, two people lost their lives in arson attacks.
In a letter to the army headquarters on Sunday, Supreme Court officials requested the deployment of soldiers around the court building before the verdict.
Hasina was ousted on August 5 last year and fled to India. Bangladeshi Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus He became head of the provisional government three days after its fall. Younis promised to punish Hasina and banned the activities of the Awami League party.
Yunus said that his interim government will hold the next elections in February and Hasina’s party will not have the chance to participate in the race.
Bangladesh’s policy under Yunus remained the same at a crossroads annoyed signs of stability.
