Dhaka: The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) raised alarm over the state of due process in Bangladesh, warning that recent in-absentia convictions of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her niece, UK MP Tulip Siddiq, point to a justice system vulnerable to political misuse during the country’s transition period.
In a strongly worded statement, IBAHRI said the interim administration must ensure that accountability for past abuses is pursued through independent and impartial proceedings, not trials that risk being perceived as retaliatory.
IBAHRI Director Baroness Helena Kennedy said the developments suggest “the justice system in Bangladesh is being used to advance unfair or politically influenced trials," adding that fair-trial guarantees remain mandatory “even during political transition or states of emergency."
In November 2025, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal handed death sentences to Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal for alleged crimes against humanity linked to the 2024 crackdown on student protesters.
IBAHRI reiterated its blanket opposition to capital punishment and warned that any sentence delivered without full due-process guarantees risks violating international law.
A legal team representing Hasina has already filed an urgent appeal with the UN Special Procedures, citing a lack of formal charge notification, denial of counsel of her choosing, and the appointment of a state lawyer “with whom she has had no communication."
