A special tribunal in Dhaka on Monday, November 17, 2025, sentenced former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity. The verdict from the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) was delivered in absentia, as Hasina, 78, has been living in exile in India since she was ousted from power in August 2024 following a massive student-led uprising.

The three-judge panel, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, found Hasina guilty on multiple charges, including incitement to violence and ordering the use of lethal force against protesters. The case stems from her government's brutal response to the nationwide "July Revolution," a series of demonstrations that began over a public job quota system and escalated, leading to the end of her 15-year rule. Former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan was also sentenced to death in absentia, while former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun received a five-year prison sentence after turning state witness.

The prosecution argued that Hasina was the "mastermind, conductor and superior commander" of the atrocities committed between July and August 2024. Evidence presented included audio recordings allegedly linking instructions from the prime minister's office to deadly operations on the streets. The tribunal's verdict stated that Hasina “committed crimes against humanity by her order to use drones, helicopters and lethal weapons” against civilians.

The crackdown resulted in a significant loss of life. A United Nations report estimated that as many as 1,400 people were killed, making it the most severe political violence in Bangladesh since its 1971 independence war. The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has stated the death toll is over 800 with approximately 14,000 injured.

In a statement, Hasina condemned the ruling from what she termed a “rigged tribunal established and presided over by an unelected government with no democratic mandate,” asserting she was not given a fair chance to defend herself. Her Awami League party called for a nationwide shutdown to protest the verdict.

The trial and sentencing have drawn mixed reactions internationally. The UN human rights office described the verdict as “an important moment for victims” but reiterated its opposition to the death penalty under any circumstances. Human Rights Watch raised concerns about the trial's fairness, noting that the defendants were prosecuted in absentia without legal counsel of their choosing, though it also called for those responsible for abuses to be held accountable. The tribunal was originally established by Hasina's own government, which critics at the time accused her of using for political purposes.

The verdict places India in a difficult diplomatic position. Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024, and has been residing in New Delhi under government protection. Bangladesh's interim government has formally requested her extradition, but India has so far been non-committal, and the death sentence is expected to make extradition even less likely. The 2013 extradition treaty between the two nations may offer Hasina immunity from politically motivated cases.

The prosecution of Hasina was a key promise of the interim government led by Yunus, who was appointed after her resignation. The new government has banned the Awami League from participating in elections scheduled for February 2026 and has vowed to carry out significant reforms before then.

For Kenya, the events in Bangladesh serve as a powerful case study on political accountability and the consequences of state-sanctioned violence against civilian protests. While direct ties are minimal, the verdict underscores a global trend of holding leaders accountable for human rights violations, a principle with relevance across all nations striving for democratic governance and the rule of law. The role of youth-led movements in forcing political change also offers a significant point of analysis for civil society and political observers in East Africa.