Yunus says ‘Courts of Bangladesh have spoken, no one above the law’ on Hasina death sentence
By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – The Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh, Mohammad Yunus on Monday hailed the “International Crimes Tribunal” verdict delivering the death sentence to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, stated that her conviction affirmed that no one is above the law.
Yunus said, “Justice will not merely survive in Bangladesh. It will prevail and sustain,” after Sheikh Hasina’s conviction.
He said in a lengthy statement posted by his office on X, “Today, the courts of Bangladesh have spoken with a clarity that resonates across the nation and beyond. The conviction and sentencing affirm a fundamental principle: no one, regardless of power, is above the law.”
Yunus said that the verdict offers a vital, although not sufficient, justice to the thousands harmed in the uprising of July and August 2024 and to the families of the deceased protesters.
“We stand at a moment of rebuilding democratic foundations wrecked by years of oppression. The crimes at issue—the ordering of lethal force against young people and children whose only weapons were their voices—violated both our laws and the basic bond between government and citizens,” Yunus said.
He added “These acts outraged Bangladeshis’ core values: dignity, resilience, and commitment to justice.
Over 1,400 lives were lost. They were not statistics but students, parents, and citizens with rights. Months of testimony detailed how lethal force, even from helicopters, was used against unarmed protesters.”
Yunus stated that the verdict recognizes their suffering and confirms that the justice system will hold perpetrators accountable.
“Bangladesh is now rejoining global currents of accountability. The students and citizens who stood for change understood this, and many paid with their lives giving their today for our tomorrow. The path ahead requires not just legal accountability but rebuilding trust between institutions and citizens. Understanding why people risk everything for genuine representation and creating systems worthy of that trust—is essential. Today’s verdict is a step on that journey,” he asserted.
He expressed confidence that Bangladesh will meet the challenges ahead with courage and humility and reaffirmed his commitment to the rule of law, human rights, and each person’s potential.
“Justice will not merely survive in Bangladesh. It will prevail and sustain,” he added.
His statement came hours after the ICT found former PM Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal guilty on all five charges of crimes against humanity.
The ICT concluded that Hasina and two other co-accused, former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, had ordered the use of lethal weapons against student protesters during the July-August 2024 uprising against Hasina-led Awami League government.
The tribunal sentenced Hasina and Kamal to death while Mamun was given five years in jail as he had turned state witness.
Hasina was ousted from power on August 5, 2024, following violent protests led by young students. She had fled to India in a military helicopter moments before an angry mob ravaged her residence. Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who was the home minister under the Hasina-led Awami League government, is also believed to have been living in India since then.
