DHAKA, Bangladesh (December 4, 2023) – Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and British Member of Parliament Tulip Siddiq were sentenced to death Monday in connection with a crackdown on student protests that ended Hasina’s 15-year rule last year.The verdict comes as Bangladesh prepares for parliamentary elections in February, currently overseen by an interim government lead by Nobel Peace prize laureate Muhammad Yunus.
The convictions stem from allegations of crimes against humanity related to the government’s response to the mass uprising.Hasina, who has lived in exile in India as being ousted, and Siddiq, who resides outside the country, were tried in absentia after choosing not to appoint defence lawyers. A separate court previously sentenced Hasina to 21 years in jail on November 27 in three related cases involving a township project; her son and daughter received five-year sentences in that instance.
The cases center around the violent suppression of student-led demonstrations that challenged Hasina’s government. Rehana, another individual involved in the case, is also currently abroad, as are Siddiq’s two siblings, all facing charges linked to the 2022 uprising. The interim government, under Yunus, has announced the upcoming February elections, marking a pivotal moment for Bangladesh’s political future following the tumultuous events of the past year.