Former Bangladesh Prime Minister set to receive the death penalty: What happens next?

What’s Happening?

In a dramatic and highly controversial legal development, former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT). The verdict, delivered in absentia, stems from her alleged role in the violent crackdown on student-led protests in July and August 2024, which grew into a nationwide uprising and ultimately led to the end of her 15-year rule.

The tribunal found Hasina guilty of crimes against humanity, including incitement to violence, issuing orders to use lethal force, and failing to prevent atrocities committed by state security forces during the unrest. The full judgment outlines multiple incidents where she allegedly directed the use of drones, helicopters, and lethal force against demonstrators. Hasina, now in exile in India since her ouster in August 2024, has denounced the trial as politically motivated and biased, calling it a “farce” and denying all charges. Because she remains outside Bangladesh and India has declined to extradite her, actual enforcement of the sentence is seen as unlikely.

The ruling has raised opinions at home and abroad. Supporters of the current Bangladeshi government and families of victims have pressed for swift execution and justice, while rights groups such as Human Rights Watch and other observers have raised serious concerns about trial fairness, including the use of in absentia proceedings and limitations on defence rights.

This unprecedented death-sentence verdict against a former leader marks a volatile moment for Bangladesh’s politics and legal system, especially with national elections on the horizon and ongoing debates over justice and human rights.

What happens next?

In practical terms, Sheikh Hasina’s death sentence is likely to remain unenforced if she remains outside Bangladesh. Symbolically, however, its impact is profound. The verdict will shape political discourse, influence electoral dynamics, and continue to fuel debate over the role of law in transitional moments.Whether this marks a genuine step toward accountability or entrenches a cycle of politicised justice remains uncertain. What is clear is that the case represents a volatile moment for Bangladesh’s legal system, its democratic future, and its relationship with international

Written by Kiera Nicole Grey.