Bangladesh News: Tribunal Sentences 7 Senior Awami League Leaders to Death Over 2024 Uprising
In a major international development, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Bangladesh has sentenced seven senior leaders of the Awami League party to death. The political leaders were found guilty of crimes against humanity, murder, and inciting widespread violence during the historic student-led uprising in 2024.
The historic verdict was announced by the three-member Tribunal-2 panel, chaired by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, on Tuesday (September 15, 2026).
Who Are the 7 Top Leaders Handed the Death Sentence?
The capital punishment order targets some of the most influential and high-ranking officials of the former ruling party, the Awami League:
• Obaidul Quader: General Secretary of the Awami League party.
• Bahauddin Nasim: Joint General Secretary of the Awami League.
• Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash & Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil: President and General Secretary of the Jubo League (the party’s youth wing).
• Mohammad Ali Arafat: Former State Minister for Information and Broadcasting.
• Saddam Hussain & Sheikh Wali Asif Inan: President and General Secretary of the Chhatra League (the party’s student wing).
The Core Charges: The prosecution successfully proved that these seven leaders actively conspired, ordered mass crackdowns, and incited lethal force to crush the civilian protests that took place across Bangladesh between July and August 2024.
Sheikh Hasina Already Received the Death Penalty in 2025
This recent verdict follows a string of legal actions taken against the previous regime. Notably, in 2025, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 had already sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (78) to death.
• The court found the former Prime Minister guilty of ordering the use of lethal weapons, military drones, and helicopters against unarmed student protesters.
• Following the sudden collapse of her government on August 5, 2024, Sheikh Hasina fled the country and took refuge in India. Arrest warrants and capital charges remain active against her, along with former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Police Chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.
What Lies Ahead for Bangladesh Politics? (Conclusion)
This massive verdict is being closely monitored by human rights groups and international observers worldwide. It marks the most extensive legal accountability drive against the Awami League leadership since the violent regime change of 2024. Experts suggest that these back-to-back death sentences are likely to deepen political polarization and cause further instability in the neighboring nation.