Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina Denies Charges Ahead of Tribunal Verdict
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has denied committing crimes against humanity, an accusation she faces concerning the suppression of last year's protests. The special tribunal in Dhaka is scheduled to deliver its verdict in her case on Monday.
Allegations and Trial Proceedings
Prosecutors allege Hasina was the primary orchestrator behind hundreds of killings during mass anti-government protests that led to her removal from power in 2024. If found guilty, prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for her.
Hasina, who departed Bangladesh for India on August 5, 2024, described her trial in absentia as a "farce" orchestrated by political opponents. She claims the trial is predetermined to result in a guilty verdict.
Security measures have been heightened around the tribunal in Dhaka in anticipation of the Monday verdict. This judgment carries significant implications for the country and for the families of individuals who died during the student-led demonstrations that ended Hasina's administration.
United Nations human rights investigators have reported that up to 1,400 people died as a result of systematic violence used by Hasina's government against protesters in 2024.
Hasina's Defense and Evidence
Hasina has declined to return from India to participate in the trial. She faces accusations of personally authorizing security forces to open fire on protesters in the weeks leading up to her departure.
In an interview conducted via email, Hasina categorically denied these allegations. She stated, "I'm not denying that the situation got out of control, nor that many lives were lost needlessly. But I never issued any order to fire on unarmed civilians." However, a leaked audio recording, verified by BBC Eye earlier in 2024 and played in court, suggested she had authorized the use of "lethal weapons" in July 2024.
Co-defendants and Legal Challenges
Hasina was formally indicted in July alongside former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Kamal, who is currently in hiding. Al-Mamun pleaded guilty in July but has not yet received a sentence.
Regarding the trial, Hasina asserted that she has been prevented from defending herself or appointing her preferred legal representation. She suggested that her political opponents are attempting to eliminate the Awami League party as a political entity.
Lawyers representing Hasina issued a statement indicating they have filed an urgent appeal with the United Nations, citing concerns over fair trial and due process at Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal. The Awami League is already prohibited from participating in the general elections scheduled for February.