In Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, an in absentia trial took place, sentencing the former Prime Minister of the country, Sheikh Hasina, to death. She was convicted of crimes against humanity related to the brutal suppression of protests in 2024, reports Meduza.
A panel of three judges from the International Tribunal for Crimes, which is an internal court of Bangladesh, found her guilty of inciting the killings of demonstrators carried out by law enforcement agencies.
Additionally, Hasina was accused of ordering the use of lethal weapons, drones, and helicopters to suppress the protests. She rejected all the charges. Among those convicted were also the former Minister of Home Affairs and the Chief of Police, as reported by the BBC.
Sheikh Hasina characterized the verdict as "politically biased and prejudiced." She added, "I am not afraid to appear before my accusers in a proper court, where all evidence can be fairly assessed and verified."
Sheikh Hasina served as Prime Minister from 1996 to 2001 and then again from 2009. In August 2024, amid mass protests that escalated into riots, she resigned and left the country. She is currently in India.
