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Bangladesh's former prime minister has been sentenced to death for human rights violations stemming from her crackdown on youth demonstrations which resulted in her forced departure.

Hasina was declared culpable of allowing lethal force to be used against activists, 1,400 of whom were killed during the disturbances in the previous year.

The trial proceeded without her presence by the International Crimes Court in Bangladesh, as she resides in exile in India since she was forced from power in July 2024.

The prosecution alleged of being responsible for multiple fatalities during the protests. She has refuted every accusation, labeling the proceedings as "biased and politically motivated".

The verdict marks a pivotal moment for Bangladesh, as the protests brought forth resentment over years of repression. Next of kin of victims and wounded had called for severe punishments.

Responding to the decision in a detailed document, the former leader stated the capital punishment was the temporary leadership's way of "eliminating her political faction" as a electoral entity and that she was satisfied of her government's record on civil liberties.

"I have no trepidation to confront those accusing me in a fair court where the proof can be evaluated and examined justly."

The capital, Dhaka, where the court convened, was under tightened security ahead of the verdict on Monday, with numerous opponents of Hasina staging a rally and applauding as the sentence was declared.

Dhaka experienced a notable rise in turmoil, with numerous incendiary devices set off and buses set on fire in the period preceding the verdict.

A minimum of one detonation was reported in Dhaka on Monday morning, with no casualties reported, local police official Jisanul Haque told media outlets.

The protest movement led by students last year began with demands to abolish public sector reservation policies but transformed into a wider anti-government movement.

United Nations rights examiners declared in an analysis in February that the around 1,400 fatalities could represent "violations of human dignity".

The report documented the shooting at point-blank range of a number of activists, the intentional injuring of others, unwarranted detentions and torture.

Disclosed sound files of a telephone conversation involving Hasina confirmed by investigative sources in previous months suggested she had approved the use of "lethal weapons" in July 2024. The recording was presented in court during the trial.

Ahead of the verdict, family members of those killed during the protests stated to press outlets they wanted the former leader to face strict penalties.

A family representative, whose brother was shot dead in July 2024, said he wanted "strict sentence" for the former leader and associates who have "committed acts of vengeance and exploited their positions".

Another relative, whose partner was fatally injured near Dhaka in August 2024, said she wanted her penalty to be "carried out before the election".

"Solely at that point the families of those killed [in the protests] will obtain solace in their souls."

Since Hasina's ousting, an interim government headed by economist Muhammad Yunus has taken charge. A parliamentary election is planned for February 2026.

However, the Hasina's political party, Hasina's political party, was banned by Bangladesh's interim government in May.

The former leader cautioned last month that if the her faction's nominees were barred from participating in the forthcoming vote, millions would boycott the ballot.

The verdict now poses a diplomatic challenge for both nations. The Bangladesh government has asked her extradition but to date India has demonstrated no inclination to acquiesce.

The legal representative assigned to her Mohammad Amir Hossain said he was "unhappy and desiring the outcome had varied".

"I am unable to challenge because my represented individuals are away; for that reason I am disheartened," he added.

Recently, the defense attorneys said they had filed an urgent appeal to the UN raising major judicial fairness and due process issues at the ICT.

The former leader faced trial together with her former home minister and security forces head.

While the sentence provides certain resolution to kin of victims in the protests, it may have minimal effect on calming the nation's partisan rifts.

"The anger against Hasina and the Awami League has not diminished," a human rights advocate from the capital stated to media outlets. "Neither she nor the party has said sorry or displayed repentance for the killings of hundreds of people."

She said "It makes it difficult for the party to be accepted by a most citizens in this country."

The activist added that the sentence was not finality for the relatives of those fatally and non-fatally harmed.

"We support numerous persons who underwent irreversible limb loss, they are amputees now, because of the suppression. They cannot pardon her."

An analyst, an observer of Bangladeshi affairs, said the "very nature of the conviction could make it even more difficult" for her party to become a normal feature of Bangladeshi politics again.

This could alter if "a form of contrition emerges and a disassociation with Sheikh Hasina and the former hierarchy," he expressed.