Bangladesh Tribunal Sentences Seven Awami League Leaders to Death

Death Sentences for Awami League Leaders

Dhaka, September 15: On Tuesday, Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal-2 issued death sentences to seven prominent figures from the banned Awami League, citing their involvement in crimes against humanity during the 2024 student-led protests known as the July Uprising.

The verdict was delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Mohammad Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, with the accused tried in absentia.

Among those sentenced were Obaidul Quader, the General Secretary of Awami League and former road transport minister, along with AFM Bahauddin Nasim, the Joint General Secretary, and Mohammad Ali Arafat, a former state minister for information and broadcasting.

The remaining four included Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, Chairman of Jubo League, Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, its General Secretary, Saddam Hussain, President of Bangladesh Chhatra League, and Sheikh Wali Asif Enan, its General Secretary.

All seven were represented by state-appointed lawyers during the tribunal's proceedings, which stemmed from the protests that led to the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024.

The tribunal had framed seven charges against the defendants on January 22, with the trial commencing on February 17. They were accused of orchestrating and inciting violence during the protests.

Prosecutors alleged that the accused attempted to suppress the protests through incitement, issuing orders, and holding meetings to plan violent actions. They were also implicated in armed assaults and severe repression, contributing to widespread violence and fatalities across the nation.

Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024, following her government's collapse.

In November 2025, the tribunal sentenced Hasina and her former home minister, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, to death in absentia for their roles in the crackdown on the protests.

The tribunal found Hasina guilty under the principle of superior command responsibility, asserting that she permitted the use of lethal force against demonstrators.

The UN human rights office reported that approximately 1,400 individuals lost their lives in violence associated with the protests from July 15 to August 5, 2024.

The international community criticized the death sentence imposed on Hasina, with legal experts and human rights organizations expressing concerns regarding the fairness of the trial. Amnesty International condemned the verdict, stating that it failed to provide justice, while Human Rights Watch highlighted issues related to Hasina's lack of legal representation.

The International Crimes Tribunal was established in 2010 under Hasina's administration to prosecute crimes against humanity from Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War.

After the fall of Hasina's government, the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus amended the tribunal's laws, granting it authority over political parties and their affiliates.

In the wake of the government's collapse, numerous legal actions have been initiated against Awami League leaders, ministers, and activists, many of which are still pending trial.

Meanwhile, Hasina recently announced her intention to return to Bangladesh in December, expressing her determination to restore the country to the "right path," undeterred by the potential for imprisonment or execution.

She made these comments during a virtual press conference in New Delhi, marking her first public engagement since her departure from Bangladesh, where participants could only hear her voice.