Bangladesh’s former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death by a Dhaka court for her role in violently suppressing student protests that killed 1,400 people.
Court’s Verdict
Bangladesh’s former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death by a court in Dhaka for her role in the violent suppression of student protests that killed 1,400 people.
The judge, Golam Mortuza Mozumder, cited crimes against humanity, stating that she ordered the use of drones, helicopters and lethal weapons against demonstrators.
Police were instructed to fire from close range and deliberately wound protesters; reports also noted unlawful arrests and torture.
Political Reactions
The death sentence was described by Deputy Prosecutor General Mohammed Asaduzzaman as a landmark ruling in the country’s history.
Opposition leader Salahuddin Ahmed called it a ‘milestone’, while professor Asif Nazrul echoed that it marks a historic day, noting the convicted has been sentenced to death for causing hundreds of deaths.
Hasina’s Statement
Hasina denied guilt, claiming the tribunal was a politically motivated sham that denied her a fair defense.
She said she had acted in good faith to restore order during the protests and did not state this in the courtroom, only in a written statement, as she remains in India where extradition requests are being ignored.
