Bangladesh remained notably calm on Tuesday, with schools and businesses operating as usual despite a call for a nationwide shutdown by the former ruling party, the Awami League. This call for protest came a day after the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka sentenced the ousted Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, and her former Home Minister, Asaduzzaman Khan, to death for crimes against humanity .
The verdict, delivered in absentia, relates to their roles in a deadly crackdown on a student-led uprising in July and August of last year. The UN has estimated that as many as 1,400 people were killed during the suppression of those protests, which were sparked by a quota system for government jobs but quickly escalated into a widespread movement against Hasina's 15-year authoritarian rule .
The Awami League rejected the court's decision, labeling the proceedings a "kangaroo court" and demanding the shutdown . However, the public response was muted, indicating a stark contrast between the party's directive and the popular sentiment on the ground. While some violent clashes between Hasina's opponents and security forces occurred on Monday, including attempts to damage historical properties linked to her family, these incidents were not widespread . The overall calm on Tuesday suggests that the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has managed to maintain order following the pivotal verdict .
The tribunal found Hasina guilty on multiple charges, including incitement, ordering killings, and failing to prevent atrocities. Judge Golam Mortuza Mozumder stated that Hasina "committed crimes against humanity by her order to use drones, helicopters and lethal weapons" against civilians . For many families of the victims, the verdict represents a long-awaited moment of accountability. The UN human rights office described it as "an important moment for victims," though it reiterated its principled opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances .
The path to justice remains fraught with complexity. Hasina and Khan currently live in exile in India, which has so far shown no willingness to extradite them, making the execution of the sentence highly unlikely for the foreseeable future . Furthermore, the trial itself has drawn scrutiny from international human rights organizations. While acknowledging the need for accountability, groups like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have raised concerns about the fairness of a trial conducted in absentia and the use of the death penalty .
The sentencing occurs as Bangladesh navigates a fragile transition under its interim government. The country is preparing for elections scheduled for February 2026, from which the Awami League has been barred . This period has been marked by significant economic challenges, including high inflation and a decline in foreign investment, as well as concerns over public safety and social stability . The calm following the verdict offers a moment of respite, but the nation's journey toward healing and a stable democratic future is far from over .