Bangladesh bars Sheikh Hasina from appealing death sentence

A Bangladesh prosecutor has declared that Sheikh Hasina, the country's former Prime Minister, is barred from appealing her death sentence, effectively closing off legal recourse in the high-profile case. The International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Hasina to death in absentia in November 2025 following her conviction related to the government's response to the 2024 student-led uprising.

The tribunal found Hasina responsible for the crackdown that claimed between 1,000 and 1,400 lives during the mass protests that year. The widespread student demonstrations had culminated in Hasina's departure from office, after which she reportedly left Bangladesh.

The prosecutor's assertion that no appeal is available represents a significant development in the case, which has drawn international attention given the scale of casualties and the political upheaval in the neighboring nation. The ruling underscores the tribunal's determination to hold leadership accountable for the violence, though Hasina's absence from Bangladesh means the sentence remains largely symbolic in terms of immediate enforcement.

The case reflects ongoing tensions in Bangladesh following the dramatic political upheaval of 2024, with questions persisting about accountability for the violence that accompanied the protests and the subsequent transition of power.