In a seismic verdict that could permanently reshape the nation's future, the long-serving leader was tried in absentia months after her government's dramatic collapse.
DHAKA, Bangladesh — A special tribunal in Bangladesh has delivered an explosive and historic verdict, sentencing ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death by hanging.
The stunning ruling, announced late today, November 17, 2025, marks the climax of a rapid and turbulent new chapter for the South Asian nation. The court found Hasina, who ruled Bangladesh for nearly 15 consecutive years, guilty on a series of capital charges, including crimes against humanity and sedition.
The trial was conducted in absentia. Sheikh Hasina, 78, has not been seen in public since she fled the country in August 2025, when her government was overthrown by a massive, student-led popular uprising. Her current whereabouts are unknown, though she is rumored to be in exile.
A Nation's Reckoning
The charges stem from the final, brutal days of her administration. The court's chief justice stated the prosecution had "overwhelmingly proven" that Hasina had "personally authorized the use of lethal force" against unarmed protesters, leading to the deaths of hundreds.
Tonight's verdict is the culmination of a months-long "national reckoning" promised by the interim government, which has vowed to dismantle the "architecture of oppression" it claims Hasina built.
Key developments in the trial:
The Charges: The tribunal specifically cited gross human rights violations, systemic corruption, and acts of sedition by attempting to use the military to crush the popular revolt.
The Tribunal: The trial was overseen by a special court established by the new government specifically to address alleged "crimes of the former regime."
Public Reaction: News of the verdict sparked immediate and polarized reactions. Thousands celebrated in Dhaka's Shahbagh Square, waving flags and hailing the decision as "justice for the martyrs" of the uprising.
From Power to Exile
Sheikh Hasina's fall from power was as swift as it was sudden. Once praised internationally for steering Bangladesh's economic growth, her long tenure became increasingly defined by accusations of authoritarianism, the silencing of dissent, and the systematic weakening of all state institutions.
The mass protests, which began over economic grievances, spiraled into a nationwide movement demanding her resignation, culminating in the storming of the presidential palace and her escape from the country.
International Condemnation and an Uncertain Future
While the sentence is largely symbolic as it cannot be carried out unless Hasina returns or is extradited its political impact is profound.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, immediately condemned the ruling. "We are deeply concerned by the use of the death penalty, which we oppose in all circumstances," an Amnesty spokesperson stated. "There are legitimate fears that this trial was rushed and amounts to 'victor's justice' rather than a transparent and fair judicial process."
The verdict effectively solidifies her exile, barring her from ever returning to the nation she dominated for decades. It also sends an unmistakable message to the thousands of officials from her former Awami League party: the new era has begun, and the old guard will be held to account.