Prosecution to Appeal Today Seeking Death Penalty for Sheikh Hasina

The prosecution in the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) of Bangladesh filed an appeal on 15 December 2025 with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court seeking to elevate the sentence imposed on former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal from imprisonment until natural death to the death penalty in relation to convictions for crimes against humanity.

This appeal follows the earlier judgment by ICT-1, delivered on 17 November 2025, which had imposed a mixture of penalties on the accused, including death sentences on specific counts and life imprisonment on others; the prosecution’s appeal specifically targets those counts in which only life imprisonment was ordered.

The appeal filing marks the next procedural step under the appellate provisions of the legal framework governing the ICT’s verdicts, and is expected to be considered by the Appellate Division later in the day.

The legal actions undertaken by the prosecution stem from charges related to alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July 2024 mass uprising in Bangladesh, including claims of excessive use of force against protestors.

Under tribunal procedures, the prosecution is entitled to seek enhanced sentences within prescribed appeal periods, and the appeal naming both Hasina and Kamal reflects this avenue.

In addition to the appeal, state authorities have indicated ongoing efforts to manage associated legal and procedural aspects, including potential enforcement of the tribunal’s original sentences, subject to appellate outcomes and applicable domestic and international legal requirements.

Sheikh Hasina, currently residing outside Bangladesh, has criticised the tribunal’s proceedings and verdicts, characterising them as politically motivated.

The case has generated significant political and legal debate, both domestically and internationally, given its implications for judicial independence, the rule of law, and the conduct of transitional justice mechanisms amid broader political developments in Bangladesh.