Bangladesh Court Sentences Former Leader Sheikh Hasina to Death

Trial conducted in absentia after her escape to India

Sheikh Hasida, the deposed former prime minister of Bangladesh, was handed a death sentence by a local court that tried her in absentia. The ruling follows allegations that she authorized the use of lethal force during the mass uprising that toppled her government.

The court’s decision comes after Hasina fled to neighboring India last year, seeking refuge from the political turmoil that engulfed the nation. Prosecutors argued that her directives to the security forces resulted in numerous casualties, a claim she has consistently denied.

Human‑rights observers have raised concerns about the fairness of a trial held without the defendant present, warning that the sentence could set a dangerous precedent for political retribution in the region.

International reactions have been swift, with several governments calling for a transparent legal process and urging Bangladesh to respect due‑process standards.