Tribunal finds ousted PM guilty of brutal student crackdown.

In a landmark judgment that marks a significant turn in South Asian politics, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Bangladesh has handed down a death penalty to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The verdict, delivered on Monday, holds the ousted leader accountable for grave crimes against humanity committed during the violent student-led revolution that resulted in the collapse of her regime last year.

The 78-year-old Awami League chief was tried in absentia, as she currently resides in exile in New Delhi. She fled Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, following weeks of intensifying protests that ended her fifteen-year rule.

Charges of Systematic Violence

The three-member tribunal issued the capital punishment after finding Hasina guilty on three major counts. These charges included inciting mass violence, issuing direct executive orders to eliminate protesters, and a gross failure to halt the atrocities committed by state machinery under her command.

According to the judgment, the crackdown was not merely a law and order operation but a "widespread and systematic" attack directed specifically against the civilian population. The court noted that the former Prime Minister’s rhetoric played a key role in fueling the chaos. The tribunal found evidence that she had delivered inflammatory speeches that triggered coordinated assaults on unarmed students.

"Exterminate" Orders and Lethal Force

The details released by the court paint a grim picture of the final days of Hasina's government. The prosecution successfully argued that Hasina authorized the use of excessive lethal force. This included deploying helicopters, drones, and heavy weaponry to suppress the uprising. The verdict stated that orders were given to effectively "exterminate" demonstrators who were demanding reforms.

Beyond the direct orders, the tribunal held Hasina responsible for a broader campaign of terror, including enforced disappearances, torture, and arson carried out by security forces. The court emphasized that as the head of state, she bore the ultimate responsibility for failing to take action against the perpetrators within her own administration.

While the Sheikh Hasina death sentence has been pronounced in Dhaka, the execution of the verdict remains complicated due to her presence in India. This development is likely to further strain diplomatic discussions regarding extradition between the interim government in Bangladesh and New Delhi.