Human Rights Watch (HRW) has expressed serious concern over the death sentence handed to former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal in absentia by the International Crimes Tribunal. In a statement issued from New York on November 17, HRW said the two were tried without being present and were not represented by lawyers of their choice, violating fair trial standards. The organization emphasized that accountability for abuses under Hasina’s administration must follow international justice norms. HRW also noted that former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, the third accused who testified as a prosecution witness, received a reduced five-year sentence. The group urged Bangladesh to ensure impartial investigations and credible trials. HRW further highlighted that the UN and Bangladesh had signed a memorandum to promote human rights, suggesting that a moratorium on executions would align with that commitment.