DHAKA — A Bangladesh court on Monday declared former prime minister Sheikh Hasina guilty of crimes against humanity, ruling that she bears responsibility for the lethal crackdown on a student-led uprising that toppled her government in August 2024. The verdict, announced in a packed Dhaka courtroom and broadcast live nationwide, could carry the death penalty.
Hasina, 78, was tried in absentia after defying repeated court orders to return from India to attend the proceedings. Prosecutors alleged that she authorised — or failed to prevent — a violent state response against demonstrators during the unrest, which left hundreds dead and ultimately forced her from office.
Reading the judgement, Judge Golam Mortuza Mozumder said the court found that “all the elements constituting crimes against humanity have been fulfilled,” marking a dramatic turn in the country’s political and legal landscape.
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The former prime minister, who ruled Bangladesh for more than 19 years across multiple terms, has repeatedly rejected the allegations. Her supporters have denounced the case as politically motivated, while rights groups say the proceedings will face intense international scrutiny in the weeks ahead.
Further sentencing arguments are expected to follow as the tribunal determines the penalty.
