Dhaka: Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has convicted ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of crimes against humanity. This concludes a months-long trial into allegations that she ordered a violent crackdown on student-led protests last year.
The tribunal announced the verdict while Hasina remained absent, having reportedly fled to India in August 2024. The judgment arrives just weeks before the anticipated parliamentary elections. Legal experts warn that this decision could heighten tension and uncertainty nationwide. The Tribunal’s law imposes a maximum penalty of death for such convictions.
Bangladesh awaits verdict on Monday in the crimes against humanity trial of fugitive former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, a highly anticipated ruling before the first polls since her overthrowhttps://t.co/ZH6XRAFdbz pic.twitter.com/DlMiXrKuIi
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) November 17, 2025Authorities barred Hasina’s Awami League party from participating in the upcoming elections, further deepening political divisions. Judges at the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka delivered the ruling under tight security. Hasina relied on a state-appointed counsel, who called the charges baseless and urged the court to acquit her.
A special tribunal is expected to announce its verdict today against Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina, who has been charged with crimes against humanity over last year’s protests that left hundreds dead.
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— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) November 17, 2025Prosecutors introduced substantial evidence to the court—including a recent United Nations human rights report—to show that Hasina directly commanded security forces during the student-led uprising of July and August 2024. According to the UN, up to 1,400 people lost their lives and thousands more suffered injuries, many resulting from gunfire by law enforcement. Reports of mass detentions, extrajudicial killings, and the suppression of dissent further illustrate the scale of the alleged abuses.
Read: Sheikh Hasina’s Son Accuses Pakistan’s ISI of Instigating Unrest in Bangladesh
Hasina publicly condemned both the accusations and the tribunal process before the verdict. She characterised the outcome as “a foregone conclusion.” Her son and adviser, Sajeeb Wazed, stated he would only consider an appeal if the Awami League earned a place in the nation’s next government.
Tension continues to grip the country, as recent reports of bombings and vehicle arson highlight rising unrest. Defendants still possess the right to appeal the verdict in Bangladesh’s Supreme Court.
