Sheikh Hasina, Two Top Aides Convicted by Bangladesh War Crimes Tribunal; Death Sentence Pronounced Amid Massive Security Clampdown

Dhaka, Nov 2025 : Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Monday convicted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two of her senior officials on charges of crimes against humanity linked to the violent demonstrations that occurred in July last year. The court has pronounced a death sentence for the ousted leader, though her formal sentencing order is still being read out.

Hasina was convicted along with former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. The verdict was broadcast live by Bangladesh Television (BTV) from the ICT courtroom, where the three-member Tribunal-1, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, is delivering the judgment.

According to the tribunal, the prosecution has proven five charges against the accused, including the failure to prevent murder—an offence listed under crimes against humanity in Bangladeshi law. Prosecutors have demanded the death penalty and have also requested that the assets of the three convicted individuals be confiscated and redistributed to families of the victims.

The 8,747-page charge sheet includes references, documents, seized digital evidence, and an extensive list of victims, according to reports in The Dhaka Tribune. The final written verdict itself spans 453 pages.

Hasina and Aides: Status and Testimonies

Sheikh Hasina has repeatedly denied all charges and has remained outside Bangladesh, defying multiple court orders to return and face trial. Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal is also currently a fugitive. Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, however, is in custody and has pleaded guilty.

In a landmark development, Mamun turned state witness—becoming the first accused to do so since the ICT was established in 2010. The court noted that while his testimony significantly assisted the prosecution, he will receive only a “lenient sentence” due to what it described as the gravity and intensity of the crimes.

Nation on High Alert

Bangladesh has been placed under unprecedented security lockdown ahead of the verdict. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali issued a rare “shoot-at-sight” order on Sunday evening, authorising police to open fire on individuals involved in arson, bomb attacks, or attempts to harm civilians and law enforcement personnel.

The security escalation follows a surge in cocktail explosions, arson attempts, and street violence across the capital, coinciding with a two-day strike called by Hasina’s Awami League from November 16–17.

Authorities confirm that at least 21 Awami League leaders and workers—who were earlier barred from political activity—have been arrested over the past 36 hours in Narayanganj during intensified police operations, according to local News paper.

Nations Awaits Complete Verdict

With large parts of Dhaka under tight surveillance and emergency deployment, the ICT continues reading out the full verdict against Hasina and her aides. As the proceedings unfold, Bangladesh remains on edge, awaiting the tribunal’s final sentencing order and the political ramifications that are likely to follow.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)