Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death.
A special tribunal found she was responsible for ordering a violent crackdown on student-led protests last year, during which the UN estimates up to 1,400 people died, most by gunfire from security forces.
Hasina was tried in her absence as she is living in exile in India, where she has been since being forced from power.
A three-judge bench of the country’s international crimes tribunal convicted Hasina of crimes including murder, extermination, torture and other inhumane acts.
Reading the verdict to the court, Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder said the ‘accused prime minister committed crimes against humanity by her order to use drones, helicopters and lethal weapons’.
Hasina had pleaded not guilty to the charges and alleged the tribunal was a ‘politically motivated charade’.
Security was ramped up across Bangladesh on Monday morning due to fears of protest, as family members of those killed during the 2024 uprising broke down in tears in the Dhaka courtroom.
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.
