China has responded to the death sentence given to Bangladesh’s former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, describing it as an “internal affair” of Dhaka. The comment came a day after a Bangladeshi tribunal convicted Hasina of crimes against humanity linked to last year’s student-led uprising.
China’s Response
During a press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that the verdict was Bangladesh’s internal matter. She declined to offer any additional remarks. Mao added that China “sincerely hopes Bangladesh achieves solidarity, stability, and development,” reaffirming its policy of friendly relations with the people of Bangladesh.
The Tribunal’s Verdict
On November 17, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia. The court ruled that she played a central role in the violent crackdown on student protests in 2024.
Hasina, now 78, fled to India on August 5 last year after mass demonstrations forced her from power. She has been living there since.
Along with Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal also received the death sentence. However, former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun received a reduced sentence of five years. He pleaded guilty, cooperated with investigators, and was the only accused present in court during the verdict.
Background on the 2024 Violence
According to United Nations human rights officials, around 1,400 people were killed between July 15 and August 15 during the nationwide student uprising against Hasina’s government. The violence marked one of the deadliest periods in Bangladesh’s recent history.
UN Reaction
The United Nations called the conviction an “important moment” for the victims of the 2024 unrest. However, it also expressed regret over the use of the death penalty.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that Secretary-General António Guterres “fully agrees” with the High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk in opposing the death penalty under all circumstances.
