Bangladesh’s ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to death on Monday for her role in the 2024 crackdown on student protests, a decision delivered by the country’s International Crimes Tribunal after months of proceedings and extensive security deployment across Dhaka. The ruling was read in a live broadcast that lasted several hours and concluded with convictions for Hasina, 78, and her former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, who were both tried in absentia after fleeing to India in August 2024.

The tribunal found Hasina responsible for authorizing the use of lethal force during last year’s uprising, which began as a dispute over government job quotas but expanded into the largest anti-government mobilization the country had seen in decades. Bangladesh’s interim government says more than 800 people were killed. A United Nations estimate places the figure much higher, at up to 1,400 deaths over a three-week period in July and early August.

The court’s findings

The judgment stated that Hasina gave direct instructions that enabled security forces to fire on crowds and failed to intervene as casualties mounted. She was convicted on multiple counts, including ordering killings and allowing state forces to act unlawfully. Khan received the same sentence on identical charges. A former police chief, who cooperated with prosecutors and provided testimony, was given a reduced prison term.

The courtroom was tightly controlled as the verdict was read. Relatives of those killed during the 2024 unrest occupied a section of the chamber, while thousands more gathered outside the tribunal complex under heavy police guard. Security forces used baton charges and stun grenades to clear parts of the crowd when groups attempted to push toward the building. Soldiers and paramilitary units were stationed around government offices in anticipation of unrest.

Hasina’s conviction came after a trial marked by sharp criticism from her supporters and by accusations from the interim government that state institutions had previously failed to hold political leaders accountable for abuses by security forces. The tribunal dismissed claims of bias, saying its proceedings followed established legal standards and included the publication of regular documentation.

Reaction from Hasina and India

Hasina, who remains in India, issued a statement rejecting the ruling and describing the tribunal as politically motivated. She said she had been denied a fair opportunity to defend herself and argued that the events of 2024 were mischaracterized. She maintained that her government had attempted to limit casualties during the protests, not escalate them.

India acknowledged the ruling but did not indicate whether it would extradite Hasina or Khan. For now, both remain outside Bangladesh’s jurisdiction, limiting the immediate enforceability of the sentence. Indian officials said only that they would remain "constructively engaged" and were committed to the stability of Bangladesh. The lack of clear direction from New Delhi leaves a major diplomatic question unresolved.

Hasina has longstanding ties to India, having spent years in exile there following the 1975 assassination of most of her family. Her move to India in 2024 was viewed by Bangladeshi authorities as a preemptive step to avoid further unrest as the protests intensified.

Context of the 2024 protests

The protests that became the basis of the charges began over a quota system for government jobs that critics said favored groups aligned with the former ruling party. Student organizations led the early demonstrations, which escalated as police used force to disperse large gatherings in Dhaka and other major cities.

Within days, the unrest spread to dozens of districts. Reports of security forces firing live rounds drew more people into the streets. Government buildings, buses, and police posts were targeted. Hospitals reported large numbers of gunshot casualties. By early August, the government had lost control of multiple areas, prompting Hasina’s resignation and departure.

Her exit paved the way for an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who later banned political activities by the Awami League, saying investigations into the 2024 unrest needed to conclude before the party could participate in national elections. Those elections are scheduled for 2026.

Response within Bangladesh

Ahead of the verdict, authorities reported dozens of crude bomb explosions and arson incidents. Most targeted vehicles or unoccupied locations. While casualties were limited, the incidents raised concerns about possible reprisals or politically motivated violence following the ruling. Police and border guards increased patrols across the capital. Checkpoints were set up on major roads.

Crowds gathered at multiple locations in Dhaka after the judgment. Some groups attempted to march toward the residence of Hasina’s father, a symbolic site in Bangladeshi political history that had been damaged during earlier protests. Police blocked the march and dispersed the crowd. Supporters of the interim government described the ruling as overdue accountability; supporters of the Awami League called it a political purge.

Economic concerns remain. Bangladesh’s garment sector, which experienced disruptions during the 2024 unrest, has been sensitive to shifts in public order. Business groups have been urging the government to prevent a repeat of last year’s instability.

Implications going forward

The sentence against Hasina is unlikely to be carried out unless India cooperates with extradition, which at present appears unlikely. The ruling, however, will shape Bangladesh’s political path ahead of the 2026 elections. It formally removes Hasina from the country’s political process and further weakens the Awami League.

Officials in Dhaka say the verdict represents a break from past practice and an attempt to confront abuses committed under earlier governments. Critics argue that the proceedings risk deepening divisions in a country where political competition has frequently been accompanied by violence.

The interim administration maintains that restoring order is its primary mandate. It has warned that any attempt to provoke unrest following the verdict will be met with immediate action. For now, the government is focused on maintaining stability as the shock of the ruling settles.

Bangladesh remains in a period of political uncertainty. The 2024 uprising, the collapse of a long-serving government, and now the death sentence for a former leader have created a landscape in which the next steps—both political and legal—will determine how the country moves through its most turbulent period in years.