Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina Wazed called the death sentence handed down in absentia against her by the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal, which found her personally responsible for the deaths of people during protests in July 2024, as “undignified” and “based on political interests.”
On her Awami League party’s social media page, Hasina called the court’s decision “undignified.” The politician said it was passed to serve political interests and handed down by a “rogue court” created and run by a government that has no democratic legitimacy and is not elected by the people.
Hasina said the purpose of the trials is to scapegoat the Awami League. Earlier, a court in Bangladesh sentenced Hasina to death, finding her guilty of “crimes against humanity” and personally responsible for the deaths during protests against quotas in government jobs in July 2024.
What happened?
Student-led protests began in Bangladesh in mid-July against a decision to allocate civil service quotas for the children of participants in the 1971 War of Independence. The unrest ended after the Supreme Court reduced the share of quotas at the end of July.
However, after the ban of the Jamaat-e-Islami party and its student wing, which were accused of violence during the protests, protesters again took to the streets, this time demanding “justice” for those killed during the demonstrations.
As a result of clashes in Bangladesh, hundreds of people were killed and thousands were detained.
Against the background Due to ongoing violence, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left her official residence and flew to India in a military helicopter. At this time, protesters broke into her official residence.
On August 8, 2024, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus took the oath of office and headed the interim government.