Did Sheikh Hasina Just Call the Verdict from a 'Rigged Tribunal' Biased and Politically Motivated?
Click to start listening
Synopsis
In a bold statement, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh condemned a recent verdict against her, labeling it as a product of a “rigged tribunal” under the unelected government of Muhammad Yunus. She highlights the political motivations behind the ruling and calls for justice in a proper tribunal.
Key Takeaways
- Sheikh Hasina condemns the verdict as politically motivated.
- Claims the tribunal lacks legitimacy under an unelected government.
- Highlights social and political issues in Bangladesh.
- Challenges the interim government to bring charges to the ICC.
- Calls for justice and accountability.
Dhaka, Nov 17 (NationPress) Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, accused the verdict delivered against her by a “rigged tribunal”, established and overseen by the unelected interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, of lacking a democratic foundation. She described the ruling as “biased” and “politically motivated”.
These comments followed the announcement from Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), which sentenced the former Prime Minister to death after finding her guilty of crimes against humanity linked to the protests in July of last year.
“Their grotesque demand for a death penalty exposes the extreme and violent intentions of certain officials within the interim government, aiming to eliminate Bangladesh's last elected Prime Minister and obliterate the Awami League as a political entity. The millions of Bangladeshis suffering under the disruptive, violent, and regressive rule of Dr. Muhammad Yunus will not be deceived by this scheme to rob them of their democratic rights. They recognize that the trials conducted by this so-called International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) were never meant to deliver justice or to shed light on the events of July and August 2025. Instead, these trials served to vilify the Awami League and divert global attention from Dr. Yunus and his administration's failures,” read a statement from Hasina following the contentious ICT ruling.
Criticizing the Yunus-led interim government, she added, “Under his leadership, public services have deteriorated. Law enforcement has withdrawn from the crime-ridden areas, and judicial integrity has been compromised, with assaults on Awami League supporters going unpunished. Religious minorities, including Hindus, face violence, women's rights are curtailed, and Islamic extremists within the government, including members of Hizb-ut-Tahrir, undermine Bangladesh’s secular legacy. Journalists are imprisoned and threatened, economic progress has stagnated, and Yunus has postponed elections while prohibiting the Awami League, the nation's oldest party, from participating in them.
The former Prime Minister refuted the claims against her in the ICT. “I grieve for all the lives lost during the events of July and August of last year, on both sides. However, neither I nor any other political figures issued orders for the killing of protestors,” she emphasized.
Hasina expressed that she is unafraid to confront her accusers in a legitimate tribunal where evidence can be thoroughly examined, reiterating her challenge to the interim government to take these allegations to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
“The interim government will evade this challenge, knowing that the ICC would exonerate me. They are also apprehensive that the ICC would investigate its own history of human rights violations during their tenure,” she claimed.
Point of View
Sheikh Hasina's allegations against the interim government and the ICT verdict highlight significant concerns about the integrity of judicial processes in Bangladesh. The ongoing political tensions and accusations of bias raise critical questions about the future of democracy and governance in the country. As observers, we must carefully analyze the unfolding situation and its impact on the citizens of Bangladesh.
NationPress
17/11/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the basis of Sheikh Hasina's allegations?
Sheikh Hasina claimed that the verdict against her was issued by a “rigged tribunal” lacking democratic legitimacy and accused it of being biased and politically motivated.
Who presides over the tribunal that sentenced Hasina?
The tribunal was established and presided over by the unelected interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.
What was the outcome of the tribunal's ruling?
The tribunal pronounced a death sentence for Sheikh Hasina after finding her guilty of crimes against humanity related to protests.
What does Hasina say about the political climate in Bangladesh?
Hasina criticized the current government for social regression, human rights violations, and failure to uphold democratic values.
What challenge did Hasina issue to the interim government?
She challenged them to present the charges against her before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
