A special war crimes tribunal in Bangladesh has delivered a seismic verdict, sentencing the country's ousted prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, to death for her role in a brutal crackdown on protesters.
The Verdict and Its Details
The court found Sheikh Hasina guilty of ordering the use of lethal force against a student-led uprising last year. Prosecutors successfully argued that this directive resulted in the deaths of as many as 1,400 demonstrators.
In a ruling handed down on Monday 17 November 2025, the court also delivered a death sentence to former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan. A former police chief, who turned state witness, received a lesser sentence of five years in jail.
International Repercussions and Domestic Fallout
Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in exile in India, has vehemently denied the charges. She labelled the trial a "sham" and accused the current authorities of pursuing "political vengeance." She specifically denied ever giving an order for police to shoot at the protesters.
In response to the verdict, her political party, the Awami League, has called for a nationwide shutdown to protest the court's decision. The legal process is not yet concluded, as the verdict can be appealed before the Bangladesh Supreme Court.
This landmark case continues to send shockwaves through the political landscape of Bangladesh and is being closely watched by international observers concerned with justice and political stability.
