U.N. says verdict in opposition to Hasina ‘necessary’ step for victims however regrets dying penalty

The United Nations has mentioned that the decision in opposition to Bangladesh’s ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on fees of crimes in opposition to humanity is an “necessary second” for the victims, however expressed remorse over the imposition of the dying penalty.

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres “absolutely” agrees with U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on the place that “we stand in opposition to using the dying penalty in all circumstances,” the U.N. chief’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric mentioned on the day by day press briefing right here on Monday (November 18, 2025).

Mr. Dujarric was responding to a query on the Secretary-General’s response to a Bangladeshi court docket sentencing Hasina to dying in absentia.

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal on Monday (November 17, 2025) discovered Hasina responsible of crimes in opposition to humanity dedicated in the course of the widespread protests in opposition to her authorities in July final yr.

Sheikh Hasina, 78, who has been residing in India since her authorities was toppled on August 5 final yr, was sentenced to dying in absentia by the tribunal. Hasina’s aide and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal was additionally sentenced to dying on comparable fees.

Mr. Dujarric referred to an announcement issued by Turk’s workplace on the decision, noting that U.N. human rights officers have been calling “diligently for perpetrators, together with people in positions of command and management, to be held accountable”.

“Accountability is important. It is, in fact, essential that folks stay calm in Bangladesh following the reassurance of the decision and for all to train restraint in response to those developments,” he mentioned.

Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani mentioned in an announcement that the verdicts delivered by the tribunal in opposition to Sheikh Hasina and the previous Home Minister mark “an necessary second for victims of the grave violations dedicated in the course of the suppression of protests final yr”.

“We also regret the imposition of the death penalty, which we oppose in all circumstances,” Ms. Shamdasani mentioned.

Ms. Shamdasani famous that because the U.N. fact-finding report was printed in February, “we now have been calling for perpetrators, together with people in positions of command and management, to be held accountable in accordance with worldwide requirements. We have additionally referred to as for victims to have entry to efficient cures and reparations.” The U.N. rights workplace report estimated that as much as 1,400 folks have been killed between July 15 and August 15 in the course of the student-led mass protests because the Hasina-led authorities ordered a sweeping safety crackdown.

Ms. Shamdasani mentioned whereas the U.N. Human Rights workplace was not aware about the conduct of Hasina’s trial, “we now have constantly advocated for all accountability proceedings, particularly on fees of worldwide crimes, to unquestionably meet worldwide requirements of due course of and honest trial. This is especially very important when, as was the case right here, the trials have been performed in absentia and led to a capital punishment sentence”.

Underlining Turk’s name for calm and restraint, she mentioned, The High Commissioner hopes Bangladesh will transfer ahead with a complete means of truth-telling, reparation and justice because the pathway to nationwide reconciliation and therapeutic.

“This ought to embody significant and transformative safety sector reform, which respects worldwide requirements, to make sure that these violations and abuses are by no means repeated,” Shamdasani mentioned, including that the U.N. stands able to assist the federal government and folks of Bangladesh in these endeavours.