Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death

The International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh sentenced Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister, to death for crimes against humanity for the violent suppression of last year’s student protests by her government.

The 78-year-old politician, who has left Bangladesh, was tried in absentia on charges of being the “mastermind and chief architect” of the crackdown on last year’s mass demonstrations, in which around 1,400 people were killed.

According to Al Jazeera, the 2024 protests in Bangladesh brought an end to Hasina’s 15-year rule, which had been accompanied by accusations of suppressing opponents, as well as extrajudicial detentions and killings. Since losing power, she has been living in exile in India and has not been seen in public or even online.

The Awami League party, led by Sheikh Hasina and now banned, has called the tribunal a “show trial” and urged its supporters to protest the court’s ruling. This has raised concerns about a potential surge in violence in the country.