The court said that it found sufficient ground to frame charges that she gave orders to kill students during the uprising that removed her from power in August 2024.
Dhaka: Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Monday convicted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her two senior aides on charges of crimes against humanity linked to the nationwide demonstrations in July last year. The sentencing of the ousted leader is awaited as the verdict continues to be read out.
The co-accused are former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. The tribunal, known as Tribunal-1 and chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, delivered the judgment in a live broadcast by Bangladesh Television (BTV).
Also Read
Hasina has so far ignored court orders to return to Bangladesh to face trial. Asaduzzaman is currently a fugitive, while Mamun is in custody and has pleaded guilty. Notably, Mamun has become a state witness, the first accused to do so since the ICT’s establishment in 2010.
According to leading Bangladeshi daily The Dhaka Tribune, the formal charge documents run to 8,747 pages, containing evidence, references, and a detailed list of victims. Prosecutors have brought five charges, including failure to prevent murder, which qualifies as crimes against humanity under Bangladeshi law, and are seeking the death penalty if the defendants are found guilty. They have also requested that the tribunal seize the defendants’ assets and distribute them to the victims’ families. Hasina has consistently denied all charges.
Ahead of the verdict, Dhaka was placed under an unprecedented security lockdown. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali issued a “shoot-at-sight” order on Sunday targeting anyone involved in arson, cocktail bomb attacks, or attempts to harm police and civilians.
The heightened tensions coincided with a two-day strike organised by Hasina’s Awami League on November 16–17. During this period, there were numerous reports of cocktail explosions and arson across the capital. At least 21 Awami League leaders and workers, barred from political activity, were arrested in Narayanganj during special operations over the past 36 hours, according to The Daily Star.
Published: 17 Nov 2025, 01:48 pm IST
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Disclaimer: Kindly avoid objectionable, derogatory, unlawful and lewd comments, while responding to reports. Such comments are punishable under cyber laws. Please keep away from personal attacks. The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of readers and not that of Mathrubhumi.