Bangladesh’s Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sentenced: A Turning Point in the Nation’s Politics
Bangladesh has been thrust into a moment of historic tension after a special tribunal in Dhaka sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia. The ruling follows accusations that she committed crimes against humanity during the July–August 2025 student uprising, a period marked by violent crackdowns carried out by state forces.
The tribunal concluded that under her leadership, security agencies used excessive and lethal force against protesters. Reports from the hearings indicated that helicopters, drones, and heavily armed police units were deployed against unarmed civilians. Prosecutors argued that these actions were not random but systematic, coordinated, and sanctioned at the highest level of government. Alongside Hasina, her former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan was also sentenced to death, while a former police chief received a reduced sentence after cooperating with investigators.
This is not Hasina’s first conviction this year. Earlier, she was handed a six-month prison term for contempt of court after a leaked audio clip surfaced in which she appeared to boast about having “a licence” to retaliate against her political enemies. The tribunal ruled that her statement had the potential to intimidate witnesses and undermine judicial proceedings.
Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in exile in India, has fiercely rejected the judgment. She described the verdict as biased, politically engineered, and part of an orchestrated effort by the interim government to erase her political legacy. Her party, the Awami League, has echoed the same sentiment and insists that the charges are a weapon aimed at suppressing its influence ahead of upcoming elections.
The ruling has triggered widespread debate across Bangladesh and beyond. Some view it as a bold step toward accountability for state violence; others see it as a dangerous precedent that weaponizes the justice system against political opponents. International observers have expressed concern about the fairness of trying a former head of government in absentia and about the broader implications for democratic stability.
The verdict also has potential regional consequences. With Hasina residing in India, questions are being raised about possible extradition requests and how this could affect relations between the two neighbouring countries. Political analysts warn that the situation could escalate dramatically depending on how both governments navigate the growing tensions.
Whether the sentence will ever be carried out remains uncertain, but its political impact is immediate. Bangladesh now stands at a delicate crossroads, where the future of justice, democracy, and political power is being fought not just in the courts, but in the national consciousness.