A Bangladeshi court on Monday sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity. Large screens set up in the capital broadcast the verdict, drawing anxious crowds. A special tribunal accused Hasina of orchestrating violent suppression of student protests last year over a job quota system, which reportedly killed around 1,400 people. She is being tried in absentia, while her son confirmed she is safe in India under security protection.
Students demanded the harshest punishment, and her party, Awami League, plans mass protests, creating political uncertainty ahead of next year’s elections. Streets of Dhaka remained largely empty as residents observed the party’s nationwide shutdown call. Authorities have warned of strict action against anyone attempting violence or attacks on police.
Hasina, Bangladesh’s longest-serving prime minister and the world’s longest-serving female head of government, led the country from 1996–2001 and 2009–2024. Daughter of founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she rose to power after his 1975 assassination, leading the Awami League from exile in India. Her tenure saw achievements like sheltering Rohingya refugees but was also marred by allegations of authoritarianism, corruption, election fraud, and human rights abuses, culminating in her resignation during widespread 2024 protests.
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