The reaction inside Bangladesh has been immediate and explosive after the announcement that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death in absentia over her government’s crackdown on the mass protests that swept the country in 2024. For hundreds of families who lost sons, daughters and relatives during the nationwide unrest, the verdict marks the first moment of official accountability after a year of grief, anger and unanswered questions. Yet across Dhaka and other major cities, many of the same families say the ruling is not enough. They insist that justice can only begin if Hasina is brought back to Bangladesh to face punishment on Bangladeshi soil.

The 2024 protests became one of the deadliest political crises in Bangladesh’s recent history. Demonstrations driven by economic frustration, corruption allegations and demands for Hasina’s resignation escalated into violent confrontations with security forces. Rights groups documented widespread use of force, arbitrary detentions and mass disappearances during the crackdown. Families of victims say dozens were killed at close range as security personnel attempted to end demonstrations that had effectively shut down the country.

Hasina fled Bangladesh before the collapse of her government and has remained outside the country since. Her location has not been publicly confirmed. The new ruling, issued by a court in Dhaka, holds her responsible for authorising lethal force that contributed to the deaths of protesters, including minors. Judges found that the crackdown constituted unlawful killing and abuse of state power, leading to the capital case.

For many families, the verdict is a symbolic milestone but not yet the justice they have demanded for over a year. Al Jazeera reports that groups of relatives gathered outside courthouses and memorial sites, chanting that accountability cannot be considered complete unless Hasina is returned to the country. Several said that human rights violations under the previous administration were systematic and that a sentence delivered in her absence risks being viewed as incomplete or politically symbolic.

The government that replaced Hasina’s administration now faces significant pressure to pursue extradition or international cooperation to bring her back. Legal experts note that any attempt to locate and extradite her would be complex and depend heavily on the country where she is currently residing, as well as that country’s bilateral agreements with Bangladesh. There is no confirmed information about her location, and officials have not said whether discussions are underway with foreign governments.

Human rights organisations monitoring the situation caution that the case could set significant precedent for political accountability in South Asia. Bangladesh’s political history has been marked by cycles of rival party dominance, street protests, and periods of heavy-handed governance. A conviction of a former leader on charges related to protester deaths is rare in the region and could reshape political expectations around responsibility for state violence.

At the same time, international legal observers highlight concerns. Justice delivered through trials in absentia often raises questions about procedural fairness, the right to a defence, and the long-term legitimacy of the ruling. While the families of victims overwhelmingly support the court decision, outside analysts warn that any future government move to enforce the sentence would attract significant global scrutiny, especially from human rights groups that oppose capital punishment.

Inside Bangladesh, the emotional landscape is more straightforward. For thousands of citizens, the wounds of 2024 remain fresh. Many families say they endured months searching for missing relatives, navigating hospitals, morgues and detention centres to piece together what happened to loved ones during the crackdown. The verdict has reopened those memories, with many relatives expressing hope that the ruling is the beginning of a broader reckoning with the abuses committed under the former government.

Government officials have not announced next steps in enforcing the ruling, but they have acknowledged the public expectation for transparency. Analysts in Dhaka suggest that the administration will likely attempt to balance demands for justice with diplomatic realities, particularly if Hasina is believed to be residing in a country unwilling to extradite her.

The international reaction remains cautious. Global rights organisations have condemned the 2024 violence and supported investigations, but many oppose capital punishment as a matter of principle. Some foreign governments may also avoid direct involvement, given the political sensitivities surrounding Bangladesh’s transition of power and the potential for instability if the verdict escalates into further political confrontation.

Despite these complexities, families of the victims remain focused on a single message. At gatherings across Dhaka, relatives held photographs of those killed and repeated the same sentiment, voiced by one father quoted in local media: “Justice is only when Hasina is hanged.” Others emphasised that the country must ensure accountability regardless of who holds political office, arguing that impunity for state violence has defined too much of Bangladesh’s history.

As Bangladesh enters a new phase of political reconstruction, the handling of the Hasina verdict will shape the next chapter of the country’s governance and its approach to human rights. The ruling has signalled a willingness to revisit abuses of power, but fulfilling the expectations of grieving families will require decisions that extend beyond the courtroom. Whether Hasina ever returns to Bangladesh remains uncertain, but the public pressure now reshaping national conversation is undeniable.