Bangladesh’s interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has requested the country’s criminal tribunal impose the death penalty on former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over the violent unrest in July and August 2024, which left thousands dead and injured, ultimately leading to the ouster of Hasina and her Awami League party from power. The government argued that Hasina and her associates were directly responsible for orchestrating the bloodshed, the BBC reported.

Bangladesh Ministry of Law presented evidence and witness testimonies against Hasina, asserting she acted as the master architect of the violence, personally ordering killings that included students, security officers, and political activists. Prosecutor Tajul Islam also sought the death penalty for former Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, citing the severity of his alleged crimes.

Meanwhile, the case against former Bangladesh Police Chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun has been left to the tribunal’s discretion. Al-Mamun remains in custody and has cooperated as a state witness against Hasina.

Sheikh Hasina has been in exile in India since August 5, 2024, with reports suggesting Asaduzzaman Khan may also be in India. She has not appointed legal representation for the tribunal and previously dismissed the proceedings as a “kangaroo court.” The next hearing will allow a government-appointed lawyer a week to present arguments on her behalf. According to Bangladesh interim government health advisers, at least 800 people were killed and roughly 14,000 injured, though the United Nations report estimates 1,400 fatalities.

Hasina’s party has challenged the figures and demanded an independent investigation, calling the prosecution politically motivated. Separately, trials continue against 25 current and former Bangladesh military officials over enforced disappearances and human rights violations, with 15 officers recently detained in Dhaka Cantonment. Political restrictions currently hinder Hasina’s party from contesting upcoming elections.