Bangladesh is bracing itself for a landmark court verdict on Monday that could see its self-exiled former leader Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death for crimes against humanity, with the case potentially fuelling an already combustible political climate ahead of national elections.
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The outcome could either deliver long-awaited justice for the 1,400 students killed during a brutal crackdown last year or spark a repeat of the chaos, according to analysts.
Hasina, 78, fled to India in August 2024 after ordering a violent suppression of the student protests that transformed into a full-fledged revolution, abruptly ending her 15-year rule.
The movement paved the way for a caretaker government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, who has since banned Hasina’s Awami League from politics and pledged sweeping reforms ahead of a general election set for February.
Yet the path to democratic restoration has been anything but smooth. The interim administration is under pressure from all sides – resurgent Islamists, a reinvigorated Bangladesh National Party (BNP), disillusioned Gen Z protest leaders and loyalists of Hasina – all jostling for influence over the political future of the South Asian nation’s 170 million people.
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Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina accused of murder in deadly Bangladesh protests
Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina accused of murder in deadly Bangladesh protests
Hasina is accused of authorising the deadly use of force against initially peaceful student protests, a charge she denies. The case is being heard in her absence, as she remains in self-exile in New Delhi. If convicted, she could face the death penalty.