e suppression of mass demonstrations against a controversial quota system in government jobs. The protests, which escalated nationwide in 2024, left an estimated 1,400 people dead. The tribunal described Hasina as the “mastermind and principal architect” of the deadly crackdown that ultimately ended her 15-year rule, a period marked by allegations of authoritarianism, enforced disappearances, and systematic silencing of dissent. Since being ousted in August 2024, Hasina has been in exile in India and has not appeared publicly or online. Her now-outlawed Awami League party dismissed the tribunal as a “kangaroo court” and called for nationwide protests, raising fears of fresh unrest at a time when Bangladesh is preparing for national elections next year. The party is barred from contesting in any electoral process under current regulations. Hasina’s son, supporters expected a death sentence By Tanvir Chowdhury, reporting from Dhaka Sajeeb Wazed, Hasina’s son and former adviser, reacted swiftly to the verdict, saying he had long anticipated the outcome and feared a death sentence for his mother. Wazed insisted that Hasina remains “safe in India” under the protection of Indian security forces. With the Awami League still commanding a significant support base, observers warn of volatile days ahead as party supporters prepare to mobilise against the ruling. “This verdict is not something they will accept quietly,” Chowdhury reports. “The coming months will be marked by uncertainty, especially with national elections on the horizon and the Awami League barred from participating.” Court officials expect proceedings to continue for some time as judges read through several hundred pages of case documents. A court Hasina built has now judged her By Moudud Ahmmed Sujan, reporting from Dhaka The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), established by Hasina’s government in 2010 to prosecute atrocities committed during the 1971 Liberation War, has now delivered a historic and ironic twist: the same court has convicted the political leader who once championed its creation. While the ICT initially met a national demand for justice, it quickly became one of Bangladesh’s most contentious institutions. Over the years, it convicted — and in several cases executed — senior opposition politicians, largely from Jamaat-e-Islami and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). International rights groups repeatedly criticised the court for procedural flaws, rushed trials, and alleged political bias. Hasina’s administration consistently rejected these accusations. After Hasina was overthrown in 2024, the interim government restructured the tribunal to probe abuses linked to the protest crackdown. In a dramatic reversal, the ICT has now tried Hasina, the former home minister, and the former police chief for crimes against humanity. Analysts say the verdict marks one of the most significant political turning points in Bangladesh’s history — a moment where a court once used to silence rivals has been repurposed to judge its creator.