Overview
- Former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan also received a death sentence, while ex–police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al‑Mamun was given five years after turning state witness.
- Hasina was convicted in absentia and remains in New Delhi, where India has not responded to Bangladesh’s extradition request.
- The court found Hasina ordered lethal force, including drones and helicopters, during the July–August 2024 protests, which a UN report estimated killed up to 1,400 people.
- Security forces deployed nationwide with shoot‑on‑sight authorizations as crude bomb blasts and vehicle arson were reported and the Awami League called shutdowns.
- The verdict can be appealed to the Supreme Court, and clemency powers rest with the president, while February elections approach with the Awami League barred and warnings of election disruptions from Hasina’s camp.