Hasina trial: crime, controversy, and consequences 

November 18, 2025

A year after fleeing Bangladesh amid violent student-led protests, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death. The verdict, delivered on Monday, marks one of the most significant legal actions against a former Bangladeshi leader in decades, coming just months before parliamentary elections scheduled for early February.

Hasina, 78, sought refuge in India in August 2024 following widespread demonstrations triggered by student protests. The anti-discrimination movement saw violent clashes, leaving several civilians dead and many more injured. While the prosecution and families of the victims celebrated the ruling, Hasina and her supporters strongly rejected it. In a statement following the verdict, she described the tribunal as “rigged” and presided over by an unelected government, adding that the proceedings were “biased and politically motivated.”

The case against Hasina arose from actions taken during the anti-discrimination protests in July and August 2024. Alongside her, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and ex-police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun were also charged. Authorities accused the trio of failing to prevent, and in some cases actively facilitating, a brutal crackdown on unarmed student protesters. The charges alleged that law enforcement and armed cadres linked to the Awami League carried out systematic attacks against civilians with Hasina and her co-defendants’ knowledge and complicity.

There were five main charges detailed in the prosecution: 1. Murder, attempted murder, torture, and inhumane acts: Hasina, Kamal, and Mamun were accused of abetting, inciting, or facilitating crimes committed by law enforcement against students. The prosecution argued that the former Prime Minister and her colleagues were complicit in a coordinated and systematic assault on peaceful protesters.

2. Orders to use lethal force, helicopters, and drones: The defendants were alleged to have authorized the deployment of live ammunition, drones, and helicopters to suppress the demonstrations. Instructions were reportedly passed down the chain of command, implicating Hasina in the execution of operations considered crimes against humanity.

3. Murder of Abu Sayeed in Rangpur: On July 16, 2024, law enforcement officers shot student protester Abu Sayeed at close range. Prosecutors claimed the killing was carried out under directives from the top political and security leadership, linking Hasina directly to the attack.

5. Killing of six unarmed protesters in Dhaka’s Chankharpul: On August 5, 2024, six students were killed in Chankharpul during the protests. Evidence presented in court suggested that the operation was executed with knowledge and oversight from Hasina and her co-defendants.
6. Killing and burning of six men in Ashulia: Also on August 5, 2024, six men were shot in Ashulia, with five bodies burned. The sixth victim, still alive at the time, was reportedly set ablaze alongside the others. The prosecution argued that Hasina and her associates had knowledge of and involvement in these acts.

On November 17, a three-member bench of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, concluded the months-long trial. The court held that the former Prime Minister and her co-defendants were guilty of crimes against humanity and ruled that they deserved the maximum punishment.

The verdict has deepened the political and social divide in Bangladesh. Supporters of Hasina decried the ruling as politically motivated, while families of the victims expressed relief and a sense of closure. The outcome also sets a significant precedent, illustrating the tribunal’s willingness to pursue high-profile figures for actions deemed to violate human rights and international norms.

As Bangladesh approaches parliamentary elections in early 2026, the ruling is expected to have far-reaching political and diplomatic implications. Analysts note that it underscores the volatile nature of the country’s political landscape and the challenges facing transitional justice in a nation still grappling with the consequences of recent civil unrest.