Bangladesh ICT Sentences Sheikh Hasina to Death Over 2024 Protest Killings

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity arising from the 2024 student-led protests that resulted in the collapse of her government.

The Tribunal held that she ordered the deployment of lethal weapons, helicopters, and drones against demonstrators, relying on verified audio material, forensic reports, and witness accounts.

Two former officials, the home minister and the police chief, were also convicted. The Tribunal found that the use of disproportionate force and targeted assaults on civilians satisfied the statutory elements of murder and persecution as offences against humanity.

The verdict intensified Bangladesh’s political volatility ahead of the 2026 elections.