Bangladesh Court Sentences Sheikh Hasina to Death for Crimes Against Humanity; India Calls for \’Stability\’

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, now living in exile, has been sentenced to death by the country’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) after being convicted of crimes against humanity related to the violent suppression of the student-led protests last year.

The ICT verdict, announced today, found Hasina guilty for her alleged role in the brutal crackdown during the July uprising.

Hours after the highly politicized verdict was delivered, India\’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement acknowledging the decision, but swiftly pivoted to focusing on regional stability—a core concern for New Delhi regarding its eastern border.

The MEA statement 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 notably omitted any mention of the extradition request, a move that keeps New Delhi non-committal on the fate of the former leader, who has been residing in India since she fled Dhaka in August last year.

The verdict and subsequent non-committal response from New Delhi set the stage for a period of complex and sensitive diplomacy between the two nations, as Bangladesh\’s interim government continues to press for Hasina\’s immediate return to face justice.