DHAKA: A Bangladesh international tribunal has found former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced her to death for her role in the violent suppression of student protests.
The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Muhammad Ghulam Murtaza, reached the verdict after a lengthy trial in which Hasina faced multiple charges over the crackdown on student demonstrators.
The court cited detailed evidence, including a phone call, alleging that Hasina personally ordered the killing of students protesting the government’s 30% job quota for children of war veterans.
The protests, which began in 2013, claimed over 200 lives and sparked nationwide unrest. Instead of addressing the students’ demands, Hasina’s government escalated the situation using force, including drones, helicopters, and other lethal methods.
The tribunal’s 453-page ruling concluded that Hasina violated international human rights laws by directing violent measures and causing the deaths of protesters.
The court also noted that Hasina, along with former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, had evaded arrest and remained fugitives, strengthening the case against them.
The student demonstrations initially started peacefully but turned deadly as security forces intensified their crackdown, resulting in over 1,400 deaths according to a United Nations report.
Hasina, who has served as prime minister for over 19 years, is known for her firm political stance and actions against opposition parties, including a previous ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, which was later overturned during a transitional government.