DHAKA(The COW News Digital) Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced seven senior leaders of the Awami League, the political party of ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to death over alleged crimes against humanity committed during the student-led protests in 2024.
According to international media reports, the tribunal announced its verdict on September 15, 2026. The proceedings were conducted in the absence of the accused, with the court handing down capital punishment to seven senior figures associated with the Awami League.
The defendants sentenced to death include Obaidul Quader, A.F.M. Bahauddin Nasim, Mohammed Ali Arafat, Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, Saddam Hossain and Sheikh Wali Asif Anan.
The case relates to violence and alleged human rights abuses during the student movement that erupted across Bangladesh in 2024. The protests initially centered on demands linked to government policies and public-sector employment quotas before developing into a broader movement against the then-government.
The political crisis eventually led to Sheikh Hasina leaving office and departing Bangladesh. Since then, authorities have pursued investigations and legal proceedings against members and senior figures associated with her former administration and party.
The latest tribunal ruling marks another significant development in Bangladesh’s ongoing political and legal reckoning following the upheaval of 2024. The proceedings have drawn considerable domestic and international attention, particularly over the use of the death penalty and trials conducted in the absence of defendants.
The International Crimes Tribunal was established to prosecute serious international crimes, including crimes against humanity, committed in Bangladesh. Its proceedings have previously attracted scrutiny from rights organizations and international observers over questions surrounding due process, judicial independence and defendants’ rights.
The verdict against the seven Awami League leaders is likely to have significant political implications as Bangladesh continues to navigate the aftermath of the 2024 unrest.
The development also comes amid continuing debate over accountability for deaths and violence during the protests and the legal responsibility of political and security figures accused of involvement.
Further legal proceedings, including potential appeals or challenges to the verdicts, could determine how the sentences are ultimately enforced.
