The United Nations said yesterday that the sentencing of former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina for crimes against humanity marks “an important moment for victims” but expressed regret over the verdict’s use of capital punishment.
Hasina, 78, who has been in hiding in India, was sentenced to death in absentia over the 2024 crackdown on a student-led uprising that left up to 1,400 people dead, according to UN findings.
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said the organisation has long called for accountability for those in leadership who oversaw the violence, and welcomed that verdicts had finally been delivered.
However, she stressed that trials involving international crimes must “unquestionably meet due process standards”, especially when held in absentia and resulting in a death sentence—something the UN opposes “in all circumstances.”
Shamdasani added that UN rights chief Volker Türk hopes Bangladesh will now move toward a broader process of truth-telling, reparations, and security sector reform to ensure such abuses are never repeated. The UN reiterated its readiness to support Bangladesh and urged all parties to maintain calm following the verdict.
Source Link:https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/un-welcomes-accountability-regrets-death-sentence-4037251
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