Prosecutors in Bangladesh have demanded the death penalty for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accusing her of crimes against humanity for her role in a violent crackdown on protests last year that led to her ouster. The demand was made in closing arguments at the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka, where Hasina is on trial in absentia after fleeing to India.
The prosecution’s call for capital punishment came on Thursday during the high-profile trial, with Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam arguing that Hasina deserved 1,400 death sentences for the estimated number of deaths during the unrest. He stated that since imposing that many sentences is impossible, they are seeking at least one. Hasina, who ruled Bangladesh for 15 years, is charged with ordering security forces to use lethal force against protesters, leading to widespread casualties. The trial is being conducted by a special domestic tribunal established to address crimes against humanity, and Hasina has dismissed it as illegitimate.
The protests erupted in July 2024, initially targeting civil service job quotas for relatives of independence war veterans but quickly escalating into a broader movement against Hasina’s authoritarian rule. Weeks of demonstrations turned violent, with security forces cracking down harshly. On August 5, 2024, the day Hasina fled the country, police killed at least 52 people in a single neighborhood in Dhaka, marking one of the deadliest incidents. The United Nations has estimated that up to 1,400 people may have been killed in the overall violence, though figures vary.
Sheikh Hasina, once hailed as a pro-democracy icon, had been in power since 2009 and was accused of increasingly autocratic behavior. Her government faced allegations of corruption and human rights abuses long before the 2024 uprising. After the protests intensified, she escaped by helicopter to India, where she remains in exile. Her party, the Awami League, has been banned from political activities, including participation in upcoming elections.
Alongside Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal is also facing the death penalty, with prosecutors citing his role in the crackdown. Former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who is in custody, pleaded guilty and has become a state witness against Hasina. The tribunal has yet to decide on his sentence. Hasina has not appointed defense lawyers, and a state-appointed counsel has requested more time to present arguments.
The trial and the death penalty demand have heightened political tensions in Bangladesh, which is under an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. Yunus took over after Hasina’s fall and has vowed to hold her accountable. Bangladesh is scheduled to hold general elections in February 2026, with Hasina’s rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) expected to be a frontrunner. The outcome of the trial could influence the country’s transition back to democratic rule.
The next court proceedings are set for Monday, where the defense is expected to present its case. A verdict could take weeks or months, and if convicted, Hasina could face execution, though she is unlikely to return to Bangladesh. The case has drawn international attention, with human rights groups monitoring the proceedings for fairness. As Bangladesh navigates this turbulent period, the trial symbolizes a reckoning for past abuses and a test for the nation’s judicial system.