Sheikh Hasina Death Sentence: Diplomatic Flashpoint Emerges

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MEA stresses commitment to “peace, democracy and stability” in Bangladesh as Dhaka labels India’s sheltering of Hasina “unfriendly”; Awami League chief calls verdict a political hit job by an unelected regime.

By TRH Foreign Affairs Desk

New Delhi, November 17, 2025 —Hours after a Bangladesh tribunal sentenced ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death in absentia for “crimes against humanity”, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a carefully worded response emphasising India’s commitment to the “best interests of the people of Bangladesh.”

The MEA said: “As a close neighbour, India remains committed to the best interests of the people of Bangladesh, including in peace, democracy, inclusion and stability in that country. We will always engage constructively with all stakeholders to that end.”

The statement comes amid a rapidly escalating diplomatic standoff after Dhaka publicly demanded that New Delhi immediately extradite Hasina and Kamal under the bilateral treaty.

Bangladesh Tribunal Declares Hasina Guilty of “Crimes Against Humanity”

According to Bangladesh TV, the International Crimes Tribunal-Bangladesh (ICT-BD) ruled that Hasina was responsible for the killing of six student protesters at Chankharpul during the August 5 uprising last year.

The tribunal’s charges read: “Sheikh Hasina has committed crimes against humanity… These killings happened under the orders and full knowledge of PM Sheikh Hasina. By such acts, they committed crimes against humanity.”

The interim government, citing the extradition agreement with India, said New Delhi is “compulsorily responsible” for handing her over.

Dhaka Warns India: Sheltering Hasina Will Be Seen as ‘Unfriendly’

In a strongly worded statement quoted by Bangladesh’s state-run BSS agency, the Foreign Ministry said: “Granting shelter to individuals convicted of crimes against humanity would be considered an unfriendly act and disregard for justice.”

The interim government insisted India must transfer Hasina and Kamal without delay.

Chellaney: ‘Kangaroo Court’ and Political Witch-Hunt

Foreign policy scholar Dr. Brahma Chellaney called the verdict a “calculated act of political retribution.”

Writing on X, he said: “The ICT’s death sentence surprises no one. The unelected interim regime and its patrons have weaponized the legal process to eliminate their strongest political adversaries.”

He argued the government had already undermined the February 2026 elections by banning the Awami League — “the party that led Bangladesh to independence.”

Sheikh Hasina Rejects Verdict, Calls Tribunal ‘Rigged’

In a statement issued through the Bangladesh Awami League, Hasina said the tribunal was “biased, rigged, and politically motivated.”

She declared the verdict a foregone conclusion: “The verdicts announced against me have been made by a rigged tribunal established by an unelected government… They are politically motivated.”

Hasina accused extremist elements within the interim regime of having “brazen and murderous intent.”

She challenged the government to present the case before the International Criminal Court (ICC): “I am not afraid to face my accusers in a proper tribunal where the evidence can be tested fairly. I have repeatedly urged the interim government to take this to The Hague.”

A Diplomatic Flashpoint Emerges

The death sentence, Dhaka’s extradition demand, and India’s guarded response have set the stage for a major geopolitical test in South Asia. With Hasina reportedly on Indian soil and Bangladesh’s politics sharply polarised, New Delhi’s next move will be closely watched.