Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia, finding her guilty of “crimes against humanity.” On 17 November 2025, a special court in Dhaka sentenced death to Sheikh Hasina. The verdict comes after a months-long trial that centered on her role in a brutal crackdown on a student-led uprising in July–August 2024, which ultimately led to the collapse of her 15-year rule.
According to the tribunal, Hasina was guilty on three main counts: she incited violence, she gave orders that led to killings, and she failed to prevent mass atrocities. In particular, the court found she had ordered the use of deadly weapons including helicopters and drones against unarmed student protesters. One of the most serious charges was her alleged command responsibility in the killing of six protesters in Chankharpul on 5 August 2024.
The tribunal also cited recorded conversations: for example, in phone calls, Hasina allegedly used derogatory language toward the students, calling them “Razakars” (a historically loaded term in Bangladesh), and explicitly ordered punitive action. Moreover, the court pointed to evidence that she had personally told one of her aides to kill over 200 people linked to cases against her.
From Hasina’s side, she strongly rejected the verdict. She labeled the tribunal “rigged” and “biased,” saying it was set up by an unelected interim government and that she was “given no fair chance to defend” herself. She also claimed the unrest in 2024 was a loss of control, not a premeditated assault on citizens.
Legally, there is still a path for appeal: under the International Crimes Tribunals Act of 1973, she could potentially appeal to the Appellate Division of Bangladesh’s Supreme Court. She is currently in India, having fled there after the uprising, and Bangladesh’s interim government has formally requested her extradition.
The case has deep political ramifications: the tribunal’s judgment is closely tied to the student-led “July Revolution” of 2024, a mass uprising that ended Hasina’s long rule. Right groups have raised concerns over due process and the fairness of the trial, especially given the high stakes and the death sentence.