Bangladesh's Former PM Sheikh Hasina Sentenced to Death by Court

A Dhaka war-crimes tribunal on 17 November 2025 sentenced former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity. The verdict was delivered in her absence. Hasina, 78, has been living in exile in New Delhi since her government was toppled on 5 August 2024.

The three-member tribunal found her guilty of inciting violence, ordering lethal crackdowns, and state-force abuses during the nationwide student uprising last year. Investigators said her directives involved the use of drones, helicopters and live ammunition against protestors.

The charges stem from the 2024 unrest, during which a UN report estimated that up to 1,400 people were killed and around 14,000 injured. The tribunal concluded that security forces under Hasina carried out a “widespread and systematic” campaign involving killings, torture, disappearances and arson, meeting the threshold for crimes against humanity.

• Bangladesh tribunal sentences ex-PM Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity
• Dhaka on high alert after verdict as political tensions rise ahead of 2026 elections
• Hasina rejects ruling as politically driven while legal appeal remains possible

Hasina rejected the ruling, calling it politically motivated and accusing the tribunal of lacking legitimacy. Her party, the Awami League, has already been barred from participating in the February 2026 national elections.

Following the verdict, security forces in Dhaka were placed on high alert. Authorities issued “shoot-on-sight” orders against anyone attempting arson or bomb attacks after several recent incidents of vehicles being set on fire and explosions reported in the capital.

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The judgement can still be appealed before the Supreme Court, but it marks a major turning point in Bangladesh’s political landscape as the country moves toward its next election cycle.