Bangladesh Court Sentences Former PM Sheikh Hasina to Death: Chief Adviser Yunus Affirms "No One Above the Law"

Sheikh Hasina has been living in exile in India since fleeing Bangladesh on August 5 last year amid widespread protests that toppled her government.

Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Monday welcomed the special tribunal's verdict against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her aide, emphasizing that the ruling confirms a fundamental principle - "no one, regardless of power, is above the law."

The International Crimes Tribunal-Bangladesh (ICT-BD) sentenced 78-year-old Hasina and her former home minister, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, to death in absentia for "crimes against humanity" during the student uprising of 2023.

Hasina sought refuge in India after fleeing Bangladesh on August 5 last year following massive protests. The court had previously declared her a fugitive. Kamal is also believed to have taken shelter in India.

"Today, the courts of Bangladesh have spoken with a clarity that resonates across the nation and beyond. The conviction and sentencing affirm a fundamental principle: no one, regardless of power, is above the law," Yunus stated in his official response.

Yunus assumed the role of chief advisor of the interim government last August, three days after Hasina's departure amid protests that ended her 16-year regime.

Responding to the verdict, Hasina rejected the charges as "biased and politically motivated," claiming the judgment came from a "rigged tribunal" established by an "unelected government with no democratic mandate."

In his statement, Yunus said the verdict provided justice to thousands who suffered during the July and August 2023 uprising, and to the families still grieving their losses.

"We stand at a moment of rebuilding democratic foundations wrecked by years of oppression. The crimes at issue - the ordering of lethal force against young people and children whose only weapons were their voices - violated both our laws and the basic bond between government and citizens. These acts outraged Bangladeshis' core values: dignity, resilience, and commitment to justice," he declared.

According to a UN rights office report, approximately 1,400 people were killed during the month-long protests last year, known as the July Uprising.

Hasina received the death penalty for ordering deadly force against unarmed protesters, making inflammatory statements, and authorizing operations that resulted in the deaths of several students in and around Dhaka.

"As many as 1,400 lives were lost. They were not statistics but students, parents, and citizens with rights. Months of testimony detailed how lethal force, even from helicopters, was used against unarmed protesters. This verdict recognizes their suffering and confirms that our justice system will hold perpetrators accountable," Yunus emphasized.

He noted that Bangladesh is now rejoining global movements for accountability, stating, "The path ahead requires not just legal accountability but rebuilding trust between institutions and citizens."

"I have every confidence that Bangladesh will meet the challenges ahead with courage and humility. With commitment to the rule of law, human rights, and each person's potential, justice will not merely survive in Bangladesh. It will prevail and sustain," he added.

Earlier, the interim government released a statement describing the verdict against Hasina and her aide as "historic" while urging citizens to remain calm, restrained, and responsible.

"Realizing the profound significance of this verdict, the interim government calls on people from all walks of life to remain calm, restrained and responsible. Everyone is specifically requested to refrain from any kind of disorder, provocative behavior, violence or unlawful activities in the post-verdict period," the statement read.

The statement, issued by the Chief Advisor's press wing, also warned that "any attempt to create anarchy, chaos or breach of public order will be strictly suppressed."