UN Regrets Death Penalty, Calls for Due Process
The United Nations reacted sharply to the death sentence, calling the decision “an important moment for victims” but reiterating its long-standing opposition to capital punishment. A spokesperson for the UN human rights office said it had “consistently advocated for all accountability proceedings to meet international standards of due process and fair trial,” stressing that the organisation “regrets the imposition of the death penalty, which we oppose in all circumstances.”
Yunus Says ‘No One Is Above the Law’
Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus hailed the verdict as a definitive break from what he described as years of authoritarian excess. In a detailed statement, he said the court had spoken “with a clarity that resonates across the nation and beyond,” adding that the conviction affirmed the principle that “no one, regardless of power, is above the law.”
Yunus emphasised that more than 1,400 lives were lost during the 2024 protests, with testimonies establishing the use of drones, helicopters and live ammunition against unarmed demonstrators. The verdict, he said, delivered “vital, if insufficient, justice” and marked Bangladesh’s return to “global currents of accountability.”
BNP Celebrates ‘End of Dictatorship’
The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former PM Khaleda Zia, welcomed the ruling. BNP General Secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir declared it “a burial of all forms of dictatorship on this country’s soil,” echoing long-standing rivalries between the two political families that have shaped Bangladeshi politics for decades.
Court Calls Hasina ‘Mastermind’ of 2024 Crackdown
The tribunal found Hasina guilty on three counts: incitement, issuing orders to kill, and failing to prevent atrocities. Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder said she acted as the “mastermind and principal architect” of the violent crackdown that saw hundreds of students and civilians killed.
The court cited extensive evidence including 10,000 pages of documentation, 80 witnesses, and video footage of targeted killings. It also said Hasina ordered the use of drones and helicopters to locate and attack protesters.
Hasina Rejects Verdict, Calls Trial ‘Rigged and Political’
From her safe house in Delhi, Hasina dismissed the ruling as “biased and politically motivated,” alleging she was given “no fair chance” to defend herself. In a statement shared by the Awami League, she accused the interim government of attempting to “nullify the Awami League as a political force.”
Hasina, who fled Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, has refused to return for court proceedings, calling the Yunus-led administration an “interim junta.”
Bangladesh Renews Extradition Demand to India
The verdict immediately reignited diplomatic pressures, with Dhaka formally requesting India to hand over Hasina, calling her a “fugitive accused.” Bangladesh’s law adviser Asif Nazrul warned that if India “continues to shelter this criminal,” the act would be viewed as “unfriendly.”
The two countries have an extradition treaty, but New Delhi has not publicly indicated whether it intends to comply. India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued a cautious statement saying it had “noted the verdict” and remained “committed to the best interests of the people of Bangladesh.”
According to her son Sajeeb Wazed, India is providing Hasina full security and treating her “like a head of state.”
Celebrations, Tensions and Tight Security Across Bangladesh
As the verdict was read, Dhaka University students burst into celebrations, distributing sweets and chanting slogans. Security forces remained heavily deployed across the country following days of bomb and arson attacks allegedly linked to Awami League protests.
The interim government warned that any attempt to create unrest would be dealt with strictly. Hasina, meanwhile, still faces multiple corruption cases involving family members, all of whom deny wrongdoing.
