Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty for Ex-PM Sheikh Hasina Over 2024 Protest Killings

Bangladesh prosecutors have formally sought the death penalty for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accusing her of crimes against humanity linked to the deadly anti-government protests that rocked the nation in mid-2024.

The move marks a historic turn in Bangladesh’s turbulent political landscape, as Hasina  once one of South Asia’s most powerful leaders  now faces trial in absentia under the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT). Prosecutors allege that her administration directly ordered or condoned the use of lethal force against protesters, resulting in more than 1,400 deaths across the country during a months-long crackdown.

“Sheikh Hasina bears ultimate responsibility for the systematic killing, torture, and persecution of civilians who opposed her regime,” lead prosecutor Mahmud Hossain told reporters in Dhaka. “The gravity of these crimes warrants the maximum punishment under Bangladeshi law.”

Hasina, who ruled Bangladesh for 15 consecutive years until her ouster in August 2024, is currently believed to be in India, where she sought refuge after being removed from power amid a wave of student-led demonstrations. The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has indicated that it may request India to reconsider her continued stay, citing ongoing legal proceedings.

The charges, filed earlier this month, include murder, unlawful suppression of protest, and abuse of power. The tribunal is expected to hear final arguments later this year, though observers say the case remains politically charged and could deepen regional tensions.

International human rights groups have called for transparency in the proceedings. Amnesty International urged the Bangladeshi government to “uphold due process and refrain from using capital punishment, regardless of political context.”

Hasina’s Awami League, now banned from political activity, has denounced the charges as a “political vendetta,” claiming that the interim authorities are rewriting history to justify their rule.

The case is seen as a defining test for Bangladesh’s fragile transition toward democratic reform  and a turning point in the country’s reckoning with decades of political violence and authoritarian rule.