In a dramatic political reversal, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death for crimes against humanity by the very tribunal she created fifteen years ago. The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), established by Hasina in 2009, delivered the stunning verdict that marks a profound shift in Bangladesh's political landscape.
The Tribunal's Origins and Initial Mission
The story begins during the 2008 general election campaign when Sheikh Hasina made trying war criminals a central pledge of her political platform. She specifically promised to pursue those who had collaborated with Pakistan during Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War. After securing a decisive two-thirds majority victory, Hasina moved quickly to establish the International Crimes Tribunal in 2009.
The tribunal began its work with significant momentum, targeting individuals accused of wartime atrocities. Many convictions were handed down in absentia, while other defendants were apprehended and brought to trial. The ICT became known for issuing severe punishments, including life imprisonment and death sentences, particularly to members and associates of Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh's largest Islamist political party.
Growing Controversy and International Criticism
As the tribunal's work progressed, critics increasingly voiced concerns about its impartiality and judicial process. Opposition figures and international human rights organizations alleged that Hasina was using the ICT as a tool to target political opponents rather than genuinely pursuing justice for war crimes.
Brad Adams of Human Rights Watch highlighted these concerns as early as 2012, stating clearly that the trials were deeply problematic. Adams specifically questioned the independence and impartiality of the judges involved and raised serious issues about the fairness of the overall judicial process.
The Dramatic Turn Against Its Creator
The situation took an unexpected turn following Hasina's political ouster last year. The tribunal that her opponents had long described as compromised quickly redirected its focus toward the former prime minister herself. Merely ten days after Hasina managed to escape from Dhaka, the ICT initiated proceedings against her.
The charges brought against the former leader were severe and comprehensive, including allegations of murder, genocide, and torture. This rapid shift in focus demonstrated how the legal mechanism originally created to serve one political purpose could be transformed to serve another entirely different agenda following a change in government.
The conviction represents not just a personal tragedy for Sheikh Hasina but underscores the volatile nature of political justice in Bangladesh. It serves as a stark reminder of how legal institutions can become instruments of political power, capable of turning against their creators when political winds shift dramatically.
