Charges against Sheikh Hasina: In a dramatic development in the South Asian neighbourhood, a Bangladesh court on Monday has sentenced ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death. The ruling concludes a months-long trial that found her guilty of ordering a deadly crackdown on student protests last year. The verdict comes just a few months before parliamentary elections raising fears of renewed political unrest in the country.
The International Crimes Tribunal, Bangladesh’s domestic war crimes court located in the capital Dhaka, announced the verdict in Hasina’s absence. The former prime minister had fled to India in August 2024. Meanwhile her party, the Awami League, has been barred from contesting the upcoming elections.
#BreakingNews | A Bangladesh court has convicted ousted Prime Minister #SheikhHasina of crimes against humanity, concluding a months-long trial that found her guilty of ordering a deadly crackdown on last year’s student-led uprising.#BangladeshNews #TheStatesman pic.x.com/lFBKNxKxBc
— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) November 17, 2025
Last year, the trial revolved around a violent student-led uprising that shook the nation. Authorities accused Hasina and other top officials of orchestrating a brutal crackdown that resulted in multiple deaths and widespread injuries.
A few specific charges were brought against her and two co-accused, including former home minister Asaduzzaman and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mamun.
Charge 1: Murder, torture, complicity
The first charge accused the defendants of murder, attempted murder, torture, and other inhumane acts. The court said they abetted, incited, and facilitated crimes committed against civilians by law enforcement and armed Awami League cadres.
According to the ruling, Hasina’s July 14 press briefing effectively gave the green light for law enforcement to violently suppress student protests. The prosecution alleged that Asaduzzaman, Mamun and few other senior officials were complicit in carrying out these orders.
Charge 2: Use of helicopters, drones, lethal weapons
The second count accused Hasina of directly ordering the killing of student protesters through the use of helicopters, drones and other weapons. The prosecution said her directive was executed with the help of the then-home minister and IGP, who instructed law enforcement officers to carry out the attacks.
The court described these acts as deliberate crimes against humanity.
Charge 3: Murder of Abu Sayed
The third charge focused on the death of a student protester Abu Sayed near Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur. The court stated that Hasina’s inflammatory remarks and orders encouraged law enforcement officers to fire directly at unarmed students.
On July 16 last year, Sayed was reportedly shot at close range in the chest without any provocation. The court held that Hasina and her co-accused instigated, abetted and facilitated this act.
Charge 4: Killing of six protesters in Dhaka
The fourth charge detailed the shooting of six unarmed student protesters in Dhaka’s Chankharpul area on August 5. According to the prosecution, Hasina’s orders and inflammatory statements prompted the former home minister, IGP, and other senior officials to encourage law enforcement and party cadres to carry out the violence. The killings were described as deliberate and systematic.
Charge 5: Ashulia killings and burnings
The fifth and final charge accused Hasina and her co-accused of the horrific killing of six students in Ashulia. This was also on August 5. The prosecution said five of the students were burned after death while the sixth was reportedly set on fire while still alive.
As with the other charges, the court held that Hasina’s statements and orders directly influenced her officials and party cadres to commit these acts resulting in widespread suffering and terror among protesters.