Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (Credit: AFP)
Bangladesh court convicts former PM Sheikh Hasina of crimes against humanity
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A Bangladesh court on Monday found former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina guilty of crimes against humanity, a ruling that could carry the death penalty. The verdict stems from a deadly crackdown on a student-led uprising that led to her ousting in August 2024.
Hasina, 78, defied court orders to return from India to face trial.
"All the... elements constituting crimes against humanity have been fulfilled," Judge Golam Mortuza Mozumder declared in a packed courtroom in Dhaka. The proceedings were also broadcast live on national television.
In 2024, anti-government protests in Bangladesh led to the deaths of at least 300 people, following the death of 94 individuals on Sunday.
Authorities intensified patrols on major roads and blocked routes leading to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's residence, as demonstrators demanded her resignation after 15 years in power.
Hundreds of thousands took to the streets of Dhaka and other cities where violent confrontations erupted between government opponents and supporters. The violence involved sticks and knives, while security forces responded with live ammunition and tear gas to disperse the crowds.
What began as protests against a civil service job quota system in July of 2024 has escalated into the most severe unrest the country has seen since Sheikh Hasina, 76, assumed office.
