Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sentenced to Death
A special tribunal in Bangladesh on Monday, November 17, 2025, sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia on charges of crimes against humanity. The verdict stems from her alleged role in a deadly crackdown on a student-led uprising in July and August of 2024, which ultimately led to the end of her 15-year rule.
The tribunal also handed a death sentence to former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, a close aide to Hasina. A third suspect, former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, received a five-year prison sentence after becoming a state witness and pleading guilty.
Dhaka Urges India for Extradition
Following the verdict, Bangladesh has formally urged India to hand over Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan. Dhaka's foreign ministry cited an existing extradition agreement between the two nations, stating that it is an 'obligatory responsibility' for New Delhi to ensure their return.
The Bangladeshi government emphasized that 'providing refuge to these individuals, who have been convicted of crimes against humanity, by any other country would be a highly unfriendly act and a disregard for justice.'
India's Non-Committal Stance
India has responded cautiously to Bangladesh's extradition request. The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement acknowledging that it had 'noted' the verdict by the 'International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh.' The statement further reiterated India's commitment to the 'best interests of the people of Bangladesh, including in peace, democracy, inclusion and stability in that country,' but did not explicitly address the extradition demand.
Sheikh Hasina has been residing in India since fleeing Bangladesh in August 2024, after mass protests forced her resignation. This is not the first time Bangladesh has sought her extradition; previous requests made after her initial flight to India were reportedly ignored.
Hasina Denounces Verdict as Politically Motivated
From her exile in India, Sheikh Hasina has vehemently rejected the tribunal's ruling. She labeled the court a 'kangaroo court' and the verdict 'biased and politically motivated.' Hasina asserted that the judgment was a calculated act by the interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, to remove her and nullify her political party, the Awami League.
The charges against Hasina and Khan included incitement of violence, ordering killings, and failing to prevent atrocities during the 2024 student uprising. The United Nations reported that up to 1,400 people may have been killed during the unrest.
5 Comments
Eric Cartman
Justice delayed is justice served. No one is above the law!
Kyle Broflovski
Bangladesh has a valid point about extradition agreements for serious crimes, but India's reluctance might stem from concerns about the due process and political motivations behind the verdict.
Eric Cartman
While accountability for the 2024 violence is essential, the political nature of this trial, especially in absentia, raises questions about its fairness and long-term legitimacy.
Stan Marsh
Bangladesh is right to demand her return. Enough impunity.
Eric Cartman
This verdict sends a strong message. Leaders must answer for atrocities.