Major Events Leading to Sheikh Hasina’s Death Sentence

News Desk 

Islamabad: A Bangladesh court on Monday handed former prime minister Sheikh Hasina a death sentence, concluding a months-long trial that found her guilty of ordering a deadly crackdown on a student-led uprising last year. 

The verdict marks a dramatic turn in the country’s protracted political crisis, which has gripped the nation of 170 million since Hasina fled to India in August 2024.

A Nation in Turmoil

The unrest began in early 2024 when the “Students Against Discrimination” movement launched protests demanding reforms to quotas in public sector jobs. 

By July, the demonstrations had intensified into a broader anti-government uprising, with protesters calling for Hasina’s resignation. Clashes between demonstrators, security forces and ruling Awami League supporters escalated sharply.

The government was accused of deploying lethal force to suppress the movement. Hundreds were killed and thousands injured during the peak of the unrest. On August 5, as crowds stormed her official residence, Hasina fled to New Delhi, where she has remained in exile.

Interim Government Takes Charge

Following her departure, an interim government was installed to restore order and prepare the country for elections. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, 85, assumed the role of de facto prime minister, pledging sweeping institutional reforms including the restoration of a non-partisan caretaker government, depoliticisation of state institutions and a revamped Election Commission.

But despite broad public support for these changes, progress has been uneven. Disagreements between political parties over constitutional amendments, judicial reforms and a proposed bicameral parliament have slowed momentum, leaving many citizens frustrated.

Election Uncertainty Deepens

Elections are scheduled for early February, but the credibility of the vote is already under scrutiny. The suspension of the Awami League’s registration — effectively barring the party from contesting — has sparked concerns about the fairness of the electoral process.

Many Bangladeshis argue that excluding one of the country’s largest political parties risks undermining the legitimacy of the election. 

The newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP), which emerged from the 2024 protest movement, is widely perceived by critics as favoured by the interim administration. Officials deny the charge, but the perception has added to political tensions.

Persistent Fragility

Security challenges continue to plague the country. Rights group Ain o Salish Kendra reports that mob violence has claimed at least 261 lives since August 2024. Human Rights Watch has warned that although some authoritarian practices ended with Hasina’s fall, the interim government has adopted “troubling tactics,” including arbitrary detentions, mass arrests and politically motivated prosecutions targeting Awami League supporters.

Allegations of torture in custody and the continued use of the Special Powers Act echo the repressive methods employed in previous eras. The interim government has rejected these accusations.

The ‘July Declaration’ 

Central to the reform debate is the “July Declaration,” a charter drafted in the wake of the 2024 uprising that outlines a vision for reshaping Bangladesh’s political and constitutional framework.

Last week, Yunus announced that a national referendum would be held alongside the February elections to determine whether the charter should be adopted. 

If approved by the electorate and ratified by the next parliament, the declaration would be incorporated into the constitution.

The proposed reforms include limiting the prime minister’s tenure, enhancing presidential powers, increasing women’s political representation, strengthening judicial independence and expanding fundamental rights. The declaration also seeks to give constitutional recognition to the 2024 uprising.

A Verdict With Far-Reaching Impact

Hasina’s death sentence adds a new and volatile dimension to Bangladesh’s political crisis, heightening polarization ahead of a pivotal election. With institutions under strain and public expectations rising, the coming months are likely to determine the country’s democratic trajectory — and whether it can emerge from one of the most turbulent periods in its recent history.

Input from foreign agencies and local media.