The headlines in both papers were terse and to the point: Hasina sentenced to death said the Dhaka Tribune; Prothom Alo merely said Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death. Her crime: she was found guilty by the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal for her violent crackdown on student-led protests last year, leading to her ouster and flight to India.
The UN estimates that up to 1,400 people died in those protests, and prosecutors told the court that they had evidence of her direct command to use lethal force against the uprising in July and August 2024. She also forcibly removed or targeted several journalists, politicians, and activists who were critical of her government.
Also convicted was former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who was sentenced to death, and former IG of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, the only one present in court who had pleaded guilty and turned approver. He was awarded a five-year jail term.
This is the first time that a former Bangladeshi prime minister has been convicted of crimes against humanity. The verdict can be appealed in the Supreme Court. But Hasina’s son and adviser, Sajeeb Wazed, told Reuters before the verdict that they would not appeal unless a democratically elected government took office with the Awami League’s participation.
This ruling comes months ahead of parliamentary elections expected to be held in February. The Awami League has not been allowed to participate. Prothom Alo said the verdict ran to more than 400 pages with evidence in the form of statements from victims and witnesses and video recordings.
Reports say the courtroom was packed, and when the verdict was read out, there were cheers and clapping.
