Key Points
- Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal is expected to deliver a verdict on November 17
- The charges stem from a deadly crackdown on the 2024 protests, with prosecutors accusing her of ordering mass violence.
- Hasina denies all allegations, calling the trial politically motivated.
- The verdict could reshape Bangladesh’s political future.
ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal is set to announce tomorrow (Monday) the verdict in a case accusing former prime minister Sheikh Hasina of ordering a “systematic attack” on protesters during the 2024 mass uprising.
The outcome could not only make or break political fortunes in Dhaka, but also send important signals to regional and global audiences about the rule of law in the country.
The case centres on widespread unrest in July–August 2024, when student-led protests escalated into a nationwide movement that ultimately forced Hasina from power.
Prosecutors allege Hasina ordered security forces to use lethal force — including helicopters and drones — against demonstrators, resulting in what they call “crimes against humanity.”
Mohammad Tajul Islam, chief prosecutor at the ICT, told the court at the start of the trial: “Upon scrutinising the evidence, we reached the conclusion that it was a coordinated, widespread and systematic attack. The accused unleashed all law enforcement agencies and her armed party members to crush the uprising,” as reported by Al Jazeera.
Hasina, who is now based in India, has strongly rejected the allegations. In an email to the BBC, she insisted: “I never issued any order to fire on unarmed civilians … The ICT is controlled by my political opponents in order to deliver a preordained guilty verdict,” according to The Daily Star.
Observers say a conviction could solidify the interim government’s narrative of justice and a break from Hasina’s long rule.
But a harsh verdict may provoke political unrest, while a lighter sentence or acquittal could reignite her support base and pave the way for her return to power.
For international watchers, the case will test Bangladesh’s judicial independence. The tribunal itself was repurposed by the interim government after Hasina’s ouster, raising fundamental questions about fairness.
Geopolitically, the ruling may complicate ties between Dhaka and New Delhi — especially if Hasina faces sustained legal pressure from abroad. It could also shape global perceptions: will Bangladesh be seen as a country willing to confront its recent past, or as one resorting to partisan trials under political duress?
Security in Dhaka has been tightened ahead of the ruling, as supporters of both sides prepare for possible unrest. Whatever the verdict, the world is watching.
