Bangladesh ex-PM Sheikh Hasina gets death penalty year after violent overthrow of her regime

The International Crimes Tribunal sentenced ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death after finding her guilty in the “crimes against humanity” case on Monday for her order to use drones, helicopters to fire on civilian crowds.

The court found Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, guilty of working together to commit atrocities on the protesters during the 2024 Bangladesh protests which eventually led to Hasina's ouster.

The court said that the elements constituting crimes against humanity have been fulfilled against Hasina and her two aides. It added that Hasina, in a core committee, passed a motion to allow use of lethal weapons.

Hasina was tried in absentia as she is currently in India in exile after fleeing from Dhaka following the fall of her regime in Bangladesh in 2024. Her co-accused Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal is also in exile, although his location is unknown.

Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun was the only accused present in the court on Monday for the verdict reading as he had pleaded guilty in July for his involvement in the uprising in 2024. He will be given a “lenient sentence”, said the court.

The court said that two accused's abscondence, despite multiple notices sent for appearance, “is admission of their guilt".

The verdict of the much-anticipated case against her came amid heightened tensions in the country as violence was reported a day ahead of the ruling.

The security in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka and in other parts of the nation was beefed up on Monday ahead of the verdict reading.

In Dhaka and other parts of the nation, paramilitary border guards and police were deployed after Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party called for a shutdown across the nation on Monday, reported news agency AP.