DHAKA — Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus said the court verdict against ousted, fugitive former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her associates proves that no one, whatever their position of power, is above the law.
The chief adviser made the remarks in a statement on Monday.
In the statement issued by the chief adviser’s press wing, Yunus said the courts of Bangladesh have spoken in language so clear that it has resonated from within the country to the global stage. The ruling, he said, is an important reflection of justice for the thousands killed or injured in the July-August 2024 uprising, even if it is not enough.
Yunus said the country stands at a turning point as it rebuilds democratic foundations battered by years of repression. The crimes for which judgment has been delivered — orders to use lethal force against unarmed young people and children — were not merely violations of law but ruptured the basic bond of trust between the state and its citizens.
He said the events struck a heavy blow against Bangladesh’s core values of dignity, resilience and commitment to justice.
“Nearly 1,400 people lost their lives. They were not just numbers. They were students, parents and citizens with rights,” he added.
Yunus said months of court testimony detailed how unarmed protesters were fired upon, including from helicopters. The verdict acknowledges their suffering and confirms that there can be no compromise on accountability, he said.
He said Bangladesh is now rejoining the mainstream of global accountability. “Many of those who stood up demanding change gave their lives. Their sacrifice is paving our path forward.” The chief adviser said legal accountability alone is not enough; rebuilding trust between state institutions and citizens is now urgent. It is necessary to understand why people were prepared to risk everything for genuine representation and to build systems worthy of that trust.
He said Monday’s verdict is an important step in that journey.
“I have full confidence that Bangladesh will be able to meet the challenges of the days ahead with courage and humility,” the chief adviser said.
If commitment to the rule of law, human rights and the potential of every individual is maintained, justice in Bangladesh will not only endure but will prevail and last, he added.
Earlier on Monday, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 sentenced Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death for crimes against humanity committed during the July-August 2024 uprising.
Former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who turned state witness and cooperated with the investigation by giving a full account of the events, was given a reduced sentence of five years in prison.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report