Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal on Tuesday (September 15, 2026) sentenced to death seven senior leaders of the banned Awami League for crimes against humanity over their alleged roles in directing, inciting or facilitating violence during the 2024 student-led protests, dubbed the July Uprising.
Awami League General Secretary and former Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader, Joint General Secretary A.F.M. Bahauddin Nasim and former State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat were among those sentenced to death. All seven were represented by State-appointed defence lawyers as the tribunal delivered the verdict in cases stemming from the 2024 protests, around 10 months after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia.
We are grateful for this verdict,” chief prosecutor of the tribunal Aminul Islam told the press after Tuesday’s (September 15) verdict. In November 2025, the tribunal sentenced Hasina and her former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death in absentia for crimes against humanity over the crackdown on the student-led protests. “Each accused faced four charges in this case, and as most of the charges against them were proved beyond doubt, the tribunal delivered the death sentences. The death sentence against Ms. Hasina drew international criticism, with legal experts and rights groups raising concerns over fair trial and procedural issues. Meanwhile, Ms.
Hasina declared on August 5 that she is determined to return home in December to put the country on the “right track” as she is undeterred by the threat of imprisonment or a death sentence.
