Bangladesh’s former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has been sentenced to death on Monday, November 17, by the country’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) for crimes against humanity related to her government’s crackdown on student-led protests in 2024. Hasina, 78, was convicted in absentia after she was exiled to India following her ousting on August 5, 2024.

Judge Golam Mortuza Mozumder of the tribunal stated, “We have decided to inflict her with only one sentence—that is, the sentence of death”.

The tribunal found Hasina guilty of authorizing the use of lethal force against protesters, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,400 people, according to an estimate in a UN report, during the unrest. A significant portion of the public believes the toll is much higher. The protests, which initially focused on demands for changes to government job quotas between June and mid-July 2024, escalated into a broader anti-government movement in the later part of July and into August 5.

Hasina was tried alongside her former home minister and police chief. The court found her responsible for inciting violence, ordering killings, and failing to prevent atrocities committed during the protests. The verdict marks a pivotal moment for Bangladesh, which has struggled with political unrest and accusations of human rights violations under Hasina’s rule.

The former leader has denied all charges, calling the trial politically motivated. She also stated that the death sentence was an attempt to “nullify the Awami League”—referring to her political party—as a political force. In a statement issued after the verdict, Hasina said she was proud of her government’s record on human rights and expressed willingness to face her accusers in a fair tribunal.

Following the verdict, Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, called the sentence “historic,” but urged calm amidst rising tensions in the capital, Dhaka. Security was heightened in the city, where protests and violent incidents had increased in the lead-up to the verdict.

The United Nations, while acknowledging the importance of the verdict for victims, expressed regret over the imposition of the death penalty, which it opposes in all circumstances. Human rights investigators had previously condemned the violence during the protests, documenting arbitrary arrests, torture and the use of excessive force.

Bangladesh’s interim government has formally requested Hasina’s extradition from India to carry out the sentence. However, India, where Hasina has sought asylum, has shown no indication of complying with the request. As a result, it is unclear whether the sentence will be enforced.