- By Supratik Das
- Mon, 17 Nov 2025 03:08 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday issued her first reaction after a Dhaka court handed her the death penalty in a sweeping conviction linked to last year's student-led uprising.
In a statement released just minutes following the sentence, Hasina said the verdict "reveals the brazen intent of the extremists who have captured the state machinery and weaponised the judiciary to wipe out democratic forces."
The ruling by Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal concluded a months-long trial that accused the former three-term leader of ordering a brutal crackdown that left 1400 dead and hundreds injured during the nationwide youth protests.
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Hasina, who has been living outside Bangladesh since her ouster in August, has consistently denied all charges, calling them "fabricated, retaliatory and historically absurd." She claimed the ICT was established under an administration without a democratic mandate, and asserted that judges lacked impartiality. According to her, the entire process was less about justice and more about political elimination.
Hasina Defends Her Legacy
Hasina hit back at the ICT's claims of human-rights abuses, saying she had always stood for development and humanity. "I am very proud of my government's record on human rights and development," she said, pointing out that her administration joined the International Criminal Court in 2010, sheltered Rohingya refugees escaping persecution in Myanmar, and saw a massive increase in access to both electricity and education
She has stated that over her 15 years in power, Bangladesh's economy grew by 450 per cent, lifting millions out of poverty, that are "a matter of historical record."
Hasina also took aim at her political opponents, implicitly referencing Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, accusing him and his allies of jealousy. "Dr Yunus and his vengeful cronies can claim no achievements that are remotely comparable," she said, framing her accusers as lacking in constructive legacy.
Court Decision: Charges, Evidence, And Security Alert
Hasina was convicted on five counts of crimes against humanity by the ICT-1 tribunal: incitement to murder; directing lethal force through helicopters and drones; and overseeing killings in Ashulia and other hotspots.
Prosecutors, who presented evidence from 54 witnesses, intercepted communications, video footage, and official documents, argued that state agencies and party cadres acted upon her direct orders. A judge in the tribunal referred to a "systematic pattern of killings," adding that law-enforcement agencies acted on explicit direction from the very top.
With tensions soaring in Dhaka, the court's announcement was met with widespread unrest as thousands gathered outside the tribunal, with reports of explosions and clashes disrupting the capital. Security forces were placed on high alert, amid fears of further violence.
In her public remarks, Hasina vowed that she will appeal the verdict, and her political struggle is far from over. She struck a confident tone, saying that the tribunal’s sentence will be overturned by the people, not just by legal arguments.
With tensions simmering across Bangladesh and her supporters already mobilising, the former prime minister is setting the stage for what could be a prolonged political and legal confrontation.