2024 saw one of the most brutal protests in Bangladesh’s history. After years of suppression, the country’s prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, along with party Awami League, was forced out of power. Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death after finding her guilty of crimes against humanity. Read on to know more about the court ruling.
Sheikh Hasina Sentenced To Death
The three-judge tribunal, led by Justice Mohd Golam Mortuza Majumder, announced the verdict for Sheikh Hasina after months of hearings. Along with Hasina, the court also delivered judgments against two of her closest aids, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.
According to the tribunal, the three conspired together to carry out the violent attacks against the protestors, who were mainly students of the country. The police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun was pardoned after apologising and giving a full disclosure of the investigation. Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, however, were tried in absentia as they have been declared fugitives by Bangladesh.
Judges of the tribunal said that instead of listening to the demand of the peaceful protestors, Sheikh Hasina ignored them and called them “Razakars”, a derogatory term used for traitors in Bangladesh. This led to many students being angry and aggressive.
Witness statements reveal that the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh ordered security forces to use drones, helicopters, and lethal weapons to target groups of protesters. The tribunal said that the violent attacks in Dhaka were also carried out by members of the Awami League’s student and youth wings.
Sheikh Hasina has been convicted on three main counts, namely, incitement, ordering killings, and failing to prevent widespread violence. The court has said that they have strong and sufficient evidence linking Hasina to the deaths of hundreds of student protestors.
The judge said that the tribunal has decided to give her only one sentence for her crimes, and that will be the death sentence.
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Sheikh Hasina’s Whereabouts
Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina has been living in exile in India since fleeing Bangladesh on August 4, 2024. The interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, has formally requested India to extradite her, but there has been no response yet.
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