A court in Bangladesh on Tuesday sentenced seven senior officials from the former ruling party of Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia. This conviction was issued due to their role in the deadly suppression of anti-government protests in 2024.
Conviction for Crimes Against Humanity
The seven individuals, all leaders of the Awami League party, were convicted of crimes against humanity, including incitement and ordering killings during the uprisings that ultimately led to Sheikh Hasina's ousting from power. United Nations estimates indicate that up to 1,400 people, mostly civilians, lost their lives in the unrest.
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Details of the Conviction and Protests
Among those convicted were Obaidul Quader, former General Secretary of the Awami League, and Mohammad Ali Arifat, former Minister of Information. Five others also held positions within the party.
Mohammad Aminul Islam, the prosecutor in the case, welcomed the verdict and stated that most of the charges were convincingly proven. The court also ordered that half of the defendants' assets be paid as compensation to the families of the victims of the massacres.
The court-appointed defense attorney, M Hasan Imam, stated that the defendants were not directly involved in the massacres and should have received lesser penalties.
The protests initially began as a student movement and turned into a nationwide uprising against Hasina's government. Hasina fled to India by helicopter on August 5, 2024, after being in power for over 15 years.
In November 2025, she was also convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death in absentia. Hasina and the Awami League have dismissed these proceedings as political and biased.
Tuesday's ruling brought the number of convictions in the courts related to the 2024 uprising to 68. Among them, 22 have been sentenced to death, while only four of the convicted individuals are in custody.
The Bangladeshi government, led by Tarique Rahman, has requested Hasina's extradition from India following the February elections. The 78-year-old former Prime Minister remains in exile and has announced plans to return to Bangladesh in December.
