 "Bangladesh's former premier Sheikh Hasina speaks during a meeting with foreign observers and journalists at the Prime Minister's residence in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on January 8, 2024. (Photo: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters)")
The UN on Monday described the sentencing of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for crimes against humanity as “an important moment for victims,” but stressed that she should not have been sentenced to death.
Hasina, 78, remained in hiding in India during the trial, which charged her with ordering a brutal crackdown against a student-led uprising last year that eventually led to her ouster. She was sentenced in absentia to be hanged for crimes against humanity over the crackdown, in which up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024, according to the United Nations.
The UN rights office, which in February released a report finding Bangladesh’s former government responsible for systematic attacks and killings of protesters that may amount to crimes against humanity, welcomed that verdicts had been issued.
“Since publishing the report, we have been calling for perpetrators –– including individuals in positions of command and leadership –– to be held accountable in accordance with international standards,” said rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani.
She added, “We have also called for victims to have access to effective remedies and reparation.”
However, Shamdasani stressed that the office had “consistently advocated for all accountability proceedings –– especially on charges of international crimes –– to unquestionably meet international standards of due process and fair trial.”
“This is particularly vital when, as was the case here, the trials have been conducted in absentia and led to a capital punishment sentence.”
“We … regret the imposition of the death penalty, which we oppose in all circumstances,” she added.
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View AllShamdasani highlighted that UN rights chief Volker Turk was hoping “Bangladesh will move forward with a comprehensive process of truth-telling, reparation and justice as the pathway to national reconciliation and healing.”
“This should include meaningful and transformative security sector reform, which respects international standards, to ensure that these violations and abuses are never repeated,” she said.
The rights office confirmed it was ready to assist Bangladesh, while Turk was calling for “calm and for all to exercise restraint” in response to the verdicts, Shamdasani added.