On Monday, November 17, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death in a case over alleged crimes against humanity. The crimes were said to have been committed during last year’s agitation which led to her ouster as the PM of the country.
The verdict was announced in-absentia as Sheikh Hasina has been living in India after her ouster as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal found Sheikh Hasina guilty on three counts. The court found her guilty of ordering a deadly crackdown on a student-led uprising last year that led to the fall of her Awami League government. This brings to a conclusion the trial that lasted for months.
The court also pronounced its judgement against Hasina’s two aides, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun in the case case. Al-Mamun was however pardoned as he had “apologised” to the people of the country and had turned a state witness in the case.
The court in its verdict said, “Sheikh Hasina ordered law enforcement agencies to use drones to locate congregating protesters and helicopters and lethal weapons to kill them.”
Notably, Bangladesh plunged into turmoil last year after violence that started with a students’ protest and eventually ended up with the removal of Sheikh Hasina government. Mohammas Yunus-led interim government has been ruling the country since then.
