Sheikh Hasina Sentenced To Death For Crimes Against Humanity: Who Are Her Co-Accused?

Last Updated:November 17, 2025, 16:18 IST

Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal were sentenced to death by the ICT for crimes against humanity during the August 2024 student protests in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh's ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina. (AFP)

Ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death by the country’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), finding her guilty of crimes against humanity for her alleged role in ordering a deadly crackdown on student-led protests that toppled her government in August 2024.

The three-judge bench of the ICT held that Sheikh Hasina, in her capacity as Prime Minister, “committed crimes against humanity by her incitement order and failure to take preventive and punitive measures" under the first charge. It further ruled that she “committed one count of crimes against humanity by her order to use drones, helicopters and lethal weapons".

Judges took nearly 40 minutes to dictate and explain the verdict, including the legal basis for why an international-standard tribunal has the authority to issue the ruling.

However, she denounced the verdict as the product of a “rigged tribunal" operating under an “unelected government with no democratic mandate."

Hasina and Kamal have been declared fugitives and tried in absentia, while Mamun initially faced trial in person before turning approver.

Who Are The Co-Accused?

Apart from Hasina, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) also sentenced former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, also a fugitive, and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who is in custody and has pleaded guilty. Mamun has also become a state witness.

The court said the three accused acted in connivance with each other to commit atrocities in order to kill protesters throughout the country.

What Are The Charges Against Them?

The 78-year-old Awami League leader, currently living in exile in New Delhi since her ouster on 5 August 2024, was found guilty on three charges: incitement to violence, issuing orders to kill protesters, and failing to prevent atrocities during the student-led uprising.

According to the prosecution, Hasina and her co-accused orchestrated a “coordinated, widespread and systematic attack" on protesters during the uprising. Hasina was accused of delivering inflammatory speeches that allegedly spurred coordinated attacks on unarmed student protesters and issuing direct orders, including the use of lethal weapons, drones, and helicopters, to “exterminate" demonstrators.

Hasina was sentenced to death on two counts. She was handed the death penalty for Count 4 concerning the shooting and killing of six unarmed protesters in Dhaka’s Chankharpul on August 5 last year. Under Count 5, the defendants were charged with shooting six student protesters in Ashulia on the same day — five of whom were later burned after death, while the sixth was allegedly set on fire while still alive.

Hasina was also sentenced to imprisonment until natural death for making inflammatory remarks and ordering the use of deadly weapons against protesting students. Under Count 2, she was found guilty of ordering the extermination of student protesters through the use of helicopters, drones, and lethal weapons.

Former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun committed crimes against humanity by their abetment in the use of drones and lethal weapons and helicopters by abetment and failure to prevent atrocities and are liable to be punished.

However, Abdullah Al-Mamun was given a pardon for making full disclosure related to the crime, and he admitted his involvement.

Prosecutors claimed that up to 1,400 people died during the crackdown.

What’s The Verdict?

Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death. Asaduzzaman Kamal also received the death penalty. However, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun received five years in prison after becoming a state witness and pleading guilty.

The court also ordered to confiscate the properties of Hasina and Asaduzzaman in favour of the state.

(With inputs from agencies)

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...

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