Sheikh Hasina faces charges of crimes against humanity for ordering a deadly crackdown on a student uprising in 2024.
DHAKA: A Bangladesh court is set to deliver its verdict on November 13 in the high-profile crimes against humanity case against the country’s ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The decision comes after a nearly five-month-long trial, which concluded on Thursday. Hasina, currently in India, has defied multiple court orders to return and face the charges leveled against her.
Court Charges Hasina with Ordering Mass Killings
The trial, which began in June 2024, centers on allegations that Hasina, 78, ordered a brutal crackdown on protesters during a student-led uprising that erupted in the summer of 2024. According to the United Nations, up to 1,400 people were killed in the violence between July and August of that year.
The prosecution has filed five charges against Hasina, including the failure to prevent murder, which amounts to crimes against humanity under Bangladeshi law. The prosecutors have demanded the death penalty if Hasina is convicted.
In his closing remarks, Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman said, “If she believed in the justice system, she should have returned. She fled the country, leaving behind the entire nation, which corroborates the allegations against her.”
Evidence and Witness Testimonies
The trial in absentia included testimony from witnesses who provided harrowing accounts of the crackdown. One witness described being severely injured by gunfire, while others testified to Hasina’s direct involvement in ordering lethal force against protesters. Audio tapes, verified by police, played during the trial suggested Hasina had instructed security forces to “use lethal weapons” against demonstrators.
Hasina’s defense, led by lawyer Md Amir Hossain, argued that the former prime minister had been “forced to flee” Bangladesh and that she had preferred to die in her residence rather than face the charges. Her political party, the Awami League, has strongly denied the charges and dismissed the trial as a politically motivated “show trial.”
Ongoing Trial and the Call for Justice
The trial has attracted significant attention, not only because of the severity of the charges but also due to Hasina’s refusal to recognize the court’s authority. Her co-accused in the case are former Interior Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who remains a fugitive, and former Police Chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who is in custody and has pleaded guilty to some charges.
In his final remarks, Asaduzzaman emphasized that the trial had been conducted fairly and had aimed to deliver justice for the victims, particularly the 1,400 individuals killed in the violence. “We want justice for both sides of the crimes against humanity case,” he said, acknowledging the loss of innocent lives, including children.
Political Context and Upcoming Elections
The verdict is expected to come just three months before Bangladesh’s general elections, which are scheduled for February 2026. This will be the first election since Hasina’s ousting, making the outcome of the trial politically significant. The case has raised questions about the future of the country’s political landscape and the role of the judiciary in holding powerful leaders accountable for their actions.
