Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has vehemently rejected her death sentence, declared by the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh. In a powerful statement, she labeled the tribunal a ‘rigged’ entity established by an unelected government. Hasina asserted that the tribunal was not a judicial body but a tool for political retribution, aiming to dismantle the Awami League. She highlighted the current administration’s alleged ‘chaotic, violent and socially-regressive’ rule under Dr. Mohammad Yunus, accusing it of economic collapse, repression, and attacks on minorities and journalists. The former premier insisted that neither she nor her political allies ordered killings during the unrest of July and August 2025, calling the tribunal neither international nor impartial. She claimed that judges and lawyers sympathetic to the previous government were removed or intimidated. Hasina also stated she was denied a fair defense and the opportunity to have legal counsel of her choice. The nation grapples with the fallout of violence that preceded the verdict, including burned buildings and bloodshed. Hasina acknowledged the tragedies but argued they were misrepresented, stating the situation spiraled out of control rather than being a premeditated assault. She reaffirmed her call for the charges to be heard by the International Criminal Court, believing an ICC review would lead to her acquittal.
