The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has responded to the death sentence handed down to former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and ex-Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal. OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said from Geneva that the verdict marks a significant moment for victims of serious rights violations during the July uprising. She reiterated the UN’s call for accountability in line with international standards, including for those in leadership roles, and for ensuring victims receive effective remedies and compensation. Shamdasani noted that the trial was held in absentia and stressed the importance of fair trial standards, especially given the imposition of the death penalty, which the UN opposes in all cases. She urged all parties to act with restraint and said High Commissioner Volker Türk hopes Bangladesh will pursue truth, justice, and reform to prevent future abuses, with OHCHR ready to assist.

Police in Barishal have arrested Masum, the joint convener of the 10th Ward unit of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), who previously bit a police officer and escaped custody. The arrest took place on Sunday night at Masum’s residence in the Bhatar Khal area. According to Kotwali Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Mizanur Rahman, Masum was wanted in multiple cases and had fled after injuring an officer during an earlier arrest attempt. Following his capture, Masum was presented before a court on Monday, which ordered his imprisonment. The incident had earlier led to a case being filed by ATSI Mahbub from Naniburi outpost. Barishal City JCD President Rezaul Karim Rony stated that the organization would not take responsibility for Masum’s personal actions and that he would be expelled from the party soon. The case highlights ongoing tensions between law enforcement and opposition-linked student groups in the region.

Following the International Crimes Tribunal’s verdict sentencing fugitive former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising, reports emerged of sweets being distributed across Bangladesh, including in the capital Dhaka. In apparent response to these celebrations, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud posted a brief message on Facebook stating, 'There are no sweets anywhere.' The tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, also sentenced former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun to five years in prison after he turned state witness. Asif Mahmud’s post has drawn attention and speculation on social media, with many interpreting it as a subtle reaction to the public mood following the high-profile verdict.

Throughout history, several heads of state and government have faced execution following accusations of tyranny, corruption, or betrayal of their nations. England’s King Charles I was executed in 1649 after being convicted of treason for defying Parliament. In Turkey, Prime Minister Adnan Menderes was hanged in 1961 following a military coup and charges of constitutional violations and corruption. Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was executed in 1979 after a controversial trial under General Zia-ul-Haq’s regime. Iran’s former Prime Minister Amir-Abbas Hoveyda was shot dead in 1979 following the Islamic Revolution, in a trial criticized for its lack of due process. Other notable leaders who met similar fates include France’s King Louis XVI, Hungary’s Imre Nagy, Romania’s Nicolae Ceaușescu, and Japan’s Hideki Tojo. These cases highlight how political downfall and authoritarian rule have often led to the ultimate punishment — death.

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death for crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising last year. Both are reportedly in India. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam stated that Bangladesh could bring them back through two legal avenues: the 2013 extradition treaty with India or via Interpol. He expressed confidence that India, respecting the rule of law, would cooperate. The tribunal also ordered confiscation of the convicts’ properties to be distributed among the July uprising victims. Former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun received a five-year prison sentence as a state witness. The prosecutor emphasized that Bangladesh has maintained international standards in prosecuting complex crimes and that the verdict would stand in any global court. The Home and Foreign Ministries are expected to coordinate the extradition process.

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, ousted during the July uprising, is now facing a total of 686 legal cases across the country. According to police headquarters, 324 of these involve murder charges, with 321 filed in Dhaka alone. The cases include allegations of abduction, attempted murder, violence, sabotage, and incitement. Five cases have been filed in the International Crimes Tribunal, including one related to the Shapla Chattar massacre, where a death sentence was recently issued. Additionally, the Anti-Corruption Commission has lodged six cases against her. Many of these cases stem from the violent aftermath of last year’s July–August protests, which led to over 1,600 cases nationwide. Of these, 580 cases against Hasina remain under investigation. On July 2, the International Crimes Tribunal sentenced her to six months in jail for contempt of court. The first case against her was filed on August 13 last year over the murder of businessman Abu Sayeed in Mohammadpur.

Following the death sentence of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal-1, a past video of executed BNP leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury has gone viral. In the clip, Chowdhury is heard predicting that one day the same tribunal would sentence Hasina to death. His son, Hummam Quader Chowdhury, commented that his father’s words reflected a belief held by many Bangladeshis. Speaking to the media in Rangunia, Hummam described the prophecy as symbolic of public sentiment against Hasina’s alleged misdeeds. The tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, sentenced Hasina to death on three charges and life imprisonment on two others. Former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal was also sentenced to death, while ex-Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun received a five-year prison term. The verdict has triggered widespread debate and emotional responses across Bangladesh’s political landscape.

The International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising, sparking mixed reactions in her birthplace, Gopalganj, and nearby Tungipara. Local residents, political leaders, and civil society representatives expressed divergent views on the verdict. Some, including leaders of Udichi, Sujan, and Jamaat-e-Islami, welcomed the ruling as a step toward justice for victims of the uprising. Others, particularly from the banned Awami League, denounced the tribunal as illegitimate and politically motivated. Several individuals, including lawyers and freedom fighters, declined to comment, citing fear or uncertainty. Ordinary citizens, such as rickshaw pullers and transport workers, largely refrained from political opinions. The ruling marks the first time in Bangladesh’s history that a former prime minister has received a death sentence, a decision observers say could reshape the nation’s political landscape and accountability standards.

A writ petition has been filed in the High Court Division seeking removal of victim-blaming statements made by murder suspect Limon Mia while in police custody and circulated by media outlets. The petition, submitted by Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Bellal Hossain (Munshi Bellal), also demands a judicial investigation into the police officers responsible for allowing the statements and calls for immediate implementation of Supreme Court directives on judges’ security. The case stems from the November 13 killing of Rajshahi Metropolitan Sessions Judge Mohammad Abdur Rahman’s school-going son and the attempted murder of his wife. The accused’s video statement, recorded under police supervision and shared online, triggered tensions between the judiciary and police. Several police officers have been temporarily suspended for negligence. The writ names multiple government and law enforcement officials, including the Home Secretary, Law Secretary, and Inspector General of Police, as respondents. Hearing on the petition is expected next week.

Families of those killed during the July uprising across Bangladesh have expressed satisfaction with the court verdict sentencing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for alleged murder and crimes against humanity. However, they voiced concerns about whether the sentence will be carried out and urged the interim government to ensure its swift implementation. Many relatives stated that only the execution would bring peace to the souls of their loved ones, while others demanded that Hasina be brought back from India to face justice. Emotional reactions poured in from victims’ parents, spouses, and siblings across multiple districts, including Patuakhali, Magura, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, and Chattogram. Several family members described the verdict as divine justice but insisted that true closure would come only after the punishment is executed. They also called for ensuring that no more families suffer similar losses in the future. The overall sentiment among the families remains one of cautious relief mixed with a strong demand for timely justice.

Intermittent clashes broke out between student protesters and law enforcement agencies in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi 32 area on Monday night, continuing from around 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Witnesses said police fired sound grenades near Anwar Khan Modern Medical College Hospital as demonstrators advanced toward Dhanmondi 32. The army had earlier set up a security perimeter near Russell Square, which protesters attempted to cross, prompting renewed police action including baton charges and additional sound grenades. Several police officers and bystanders were reportedly injured. The unrest caused partial traffic disruption and left the area largely deserted. The tension spread to nearby neighborhoods such as Kalabagan, Panthapath, Sukrabad, and Sobhanbagh, where movement was temporarily halted. By 10 p.m., students were still positioned near Kalabagan and Dhanmondi Lake, while police and army units remained deployed from Russell Square to Metro Shopping Mall to maintain control.

Two schools in Netrakona Sadar upazila of Bangladesh were set on fire by unidentified miscreants early Sunday night. The attacks occurred around 3 a.m. in Madanpur Union, targeting Monang Government Primary School and Sajiura Mofila Foyez Adarsha High School. The primary school suffered extensive damage, with three classrooms and a teachers’ room completely burned, while the high school sustained minor damage to a door in its veranda. Local residents attempted to extinguish the fires, managing to save the high school from major destruction. Police and local administration officials visited the sites on Monday morning. No arrests have been made so far, but police have launched an investigation. The Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) has formed two separate five-member committees to investigate the incidents, one for each school, with reports expected within seven working days. Classes at the primary school were suspended following the fire.

Denmark-based APM Terminals, a subsidiary of the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, has signed an agreement with the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) to construct and operate the Laldia Container Terminal in Bangladesh for 30 years under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The company will invest approximately Tk 6,700 crore in the project. The signing ceremony took place in Dhaka, attended by senior officials including PPP Authority CEO Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud Bin Harun, Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (Retd.) M Sakhawat Hossain, and Danish State Secretary for Trade and Investment Lene Gandløse Hansen. The terminal is expected to become operational between 2028 and 2030. Under the agreement, APM Terminals will be responsible for the design, financing, construction, and operation of the facility, which aims to enhance Bangladesh’s maritime trade capacity and efficiency.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Colonel (Retd.) Oli Ahmed Bir Bikrom welcomed the International Crimes Tribunal’s verdict sentencing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death for crimes against humanity committed during the July–August 2024 massacre. Speaking on Monday, November 17, after the verdict, Colonel Oli said the ruling fulfilled the hopes and aspirations of Bangladesh’s 180 million citizens. He emphasized that justice is the right of every citizen and that the verdict delivered long-awaited justice to the families of the martyrs. Colonel Oli further demanded that the Awami League as a political party, along with its leaders and activists, also face trial for their alleged crimes. He stated that the judgment proves no one is above the law and serves as a lesson for future judicial processes to remain free from authoritarian influence.

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus stated that the court verdict sentencing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her associate Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death for crimes against humanity during the July–August 2024 uprising demonstrates that no one is above the law. In a statement issued Monday, Yunus said the ruling reflects a crucial step toward justice for thousands killed or injured during the movement. He emphasized that the judgment acknowledges the suffering of unarmed protesters, including reports of helicopter gunfire, and reaffirms Bangladesh’s commitment to accountability and human rights. Yunus described the nation as standing at a crossroads to rebuild its democratic foundations after years of repression. He urged the restoration of trust between citizens and state institutions and said the verdict marks an important milestone in that journey. The Chief Adviser expressed confidence that Bangladesh, guided by courage and humility, will overcome future challenges and ensure justice prevails.