Bangladesh's deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death for her alleged role in a deadly crackdown on students who were protesting against her government last year.
The international crimes tribunal in Dhaka found Hasina guilty of incitement, orders to kill and inaction to prevent atrocities, with the judges saying she had committed "crimes against humanity" by ordering the use of drones, helicopters and lethal weapons against civilians. The ruling comes after months of tensions leading up to the verdict, including a surge in political violence and a series of crude bombings across the city.
Hasina was not present in court as her extradition to face trial has been denied by the Indian government, where she is currently living under protection. Her family members were present in court, with some breaking down in tears as the death sentences were handed down.
Human rights groups have long accused Hasina of using the tribunal to pursue politically motivated cases while in power, and have criticized its use of the death penalty. However, for families of those killed in the uprising, the verdict has brought a sense of relief and catharsis.
The ruling is seen as a significant moment for victims of the crackdown, but also raises concerns about accountability and the rule of law in Bangladesh. As the country prepares for its first election since Hasina's ouster, her Awami League party has vowed to cause mass unrest in response to the verdict.
In a statement released after the ruling, Hasina claimed she had not been given a "fair chance" to defend herself in court and said she had acted in good faith to bring disorder under control. However, her lawyers have announced plans to appeal the verdict, and the case is likely to remain contentious for some time.
The international crimes tribunal in Dhaka found Hasina guilty of incitement, orders to kill and inaction to prevent atrocities, with the judges saying she had committed "crimes against humanity" by ordering the use of drones, helicopters and lethal weapons against civilians. The ruling comes after months of tensions leading up to the verdict, including a surge in political violence and a series of crude bombings across the city.
Hasina was not present in court as her extradition to face trial has been denied by the Indian government, where she is currently living under protection. Her family members were present in court, with some breaking down in tears as the death sentences were handed down.
Human rights groups have long accused Hasina of using the tribunal to pursue politically motivated cases while in power, and have criticized its use of the death penalty. However, for families of those killed in the uprising, the verdict has brought a sense of relief and catharsis.
The ruling is seen as a significant moment for victims of the crackdown, but also raises concerns about accountability and the rule of law in Bangladesh. As the country prepares for its first election since Hasina's ouster, her Awami League party has vowed to cause mass unrest in response to the verdict.
In a statement released after the ruling, Hasina claimed she had not been given a "fair chance" to defend herself in court and said she had acted in good faith to bring disorder under control. However, her lawyers have announced plans to appeal the verdict, and the case is likely to remain contentious for some time.
... Bangladesh's history with human rights isn't exactly a clean slate, you know? It's just another example of how fragile justice can be in countries with authoritarian tendencies 
... I mean, the fact that she was denied extradition to face trial is pretty suspicious on its own... and now her party is threatening mass unrest after the verdict? Sounds like a classic case of "we can't let you win" 
... How can we trust the system when it's just being used as a tool for power struggles? 
. But I gotta say, I'm also kinda glad that there was a trial and accountability happened in this situation 
. It might be a bummer for Hasina, but at least the truth is out now. And I can see why the human rights groups have always been vocal about their concerns with the tribunal... it's like, if you're gonna try someone for crimes against humanity, make sure they've got a fair shot 
.
It's definitely made the international community take notice and might put more pressure on the government to clean up its act 
. So yeah, I guess you could say that even in a tough situation like this, there's always room for hope and improvement 
.
. This verdict shows us that even when we think we're fighting for a just cause, our actions can be misinterpreted or twisted by others. It's easy to say "I acted in good faith" but the truth is, no one has a 100% pure intention. The fact that Hasina claimed she didn't get a fair chance to defend herself raises questions about the fairness of the system. Maybe we should focus on building a more open and transparent justice system rather than just blaming individuals? The real tragedy here is that innocent lives were lost, and now they're seeking closure in a system that's supposed to protect them 
her party's already threatening unrest? that's a big red flag for bangladesh 
it's gonna be interesting to see how this all plays out, especially with the election coming up soon 
i'm just hoping that the justice system in bangladesh is actually gonna work as intended & not just be used to settle scores 
It just doesn't seem fair to me. And what's with the Indian government not extraditing her? Is that because they're friends with Bangladesh or what? 
how human rights groups feel she used the tribunal for politics & the Indian gov't refused extradition... this verdict's gonna spark mass unrest in BD before their first election 