Genocide in Bangladesh: UN Reports Crimes Against Humanity by Sheikh Hasina’s Government

By Matiul Alam, PhD

UBC and World Education Canada


Published: February 12, 2025

Abstract: A recent United Nations (UN) report has accused Sheikh Hasina’s government of committing crimes against humanity during the July 2024 student-led protests in Bangladesh. The report estimates that up to 1,400 people were killed in a brutal crackdown, including students, activists, and innocent civilians. This article critically examines the UN’s findings, highlighting systematic human rights violations, extrajudicial killings, and a broader attempt to suppress political dissent, which some experts consider an act of genocide (United Nations Human Rights Office, 2025). It also explores the possibility of Sheikh Hasina facing trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the likelihood of a death penalty if convicted.

Introduction: The mass killing of Bangladeshi citizens in July 2024 has drawn international condemnation. The United Nations Human Rights Office (2025) reported that security forces engaged in "widespread and systematic attacks against civilians," potentially constituting crimes against humanity. The crackdown targeted student protesters demanding reforms in government job quotas, which later evolved into an anti-regime movement. Many analysts argue that this systematic elimination of dissent amounts to an attempt at political genocide (Rahman, 2025).

Genocidal Patterns in the Crackdown According to the UN report, the government's response was not merely a violent suppression of protests but an orchestrated attempt to eliminate opposition forces permanently. The report details that security and intelligence services executed summary killings, arbitrarily detained thousands, and systematically tortured detainees (UNHRO, 2025). The use of torture and mass detentions mirrors authoritarian regimes throughout history that have used state violence to maintain control (Chowdhury, 2025).

Rahman (2025) emphasizes that the targeting of specific demographic groups, particularly university students and young activists, aligns with international definitions of genocide under the Rome Statute. The Bangladesh Genocide Archive (2025) also reported that government forces used lethal force against unarmed civilians, with verified video evidence showing security personnel shooting at protesters from close range. Testimonies from survivors describe night-time raids on student dormitories, where security forces executed suspected activists without due process.

Further reports indicate that hospitals and medical facilities were denied access to wounded protesters, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Humanitarian organizations such as the International Red Cross attempted to intervene but were restricted from operating freely in conflict zones (HRW, 2025). The denial of medical aid constitutes a war crime under international human rights law (AI, 2025).

International Response and Legal Implications

The UN has called for an independent investigation into the alleged crimes, urging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to consider prosecuting those responsible for human rights violations (Reuters, 2025). Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have demanded sanctions against Bangladeshi officials implicated in the atrocities (AI, 2025; HRW, 2025).

Legal experts argue that Sheikh Hasina’s actions may fall under the definition of "state-led genocide," a rare classification that applies when a government deliberately eliminates a portion of its population to maintain power (Chowdhury, 2025). If proven, this could lead to international legal consequences, including arrest warrants against key government officials. The UN has also urged neighboring countries, particularly India and China, to reconsider their diplomatic support for Sheikh Hasina's government, warning that continued collaboration could implicate them in the crimes under international law (UNHRO, 2025).

Additionally, international bodies such as the European Union and the United States Congress have proposed economic sanctions and visa bans on Bangladeshi officials linked to the crackdown. The U.S. State Department has warned that failure to address these human rights violations could lead to further isolation of Bangladesh from global trade agreements (Rahman, 2025).

Potential Death Penalty for Sheikh Hasina

If tried and convicted by the ICC or a domestic tribunal, Sheikh Hasina could face severe penalties, including life imprisonment or the death penalty. Precedents exist where heads of state, such as Saddam Hussein and leaders involved in the Rwandan Genocide, were tried and sentenced to death for crimes against humanity. Legal scholars argue that given the severity of the charges, the death penalty could be a probable outcome should an independent tribunal find her guilty (Chowdhury, 2025).

The Rome Statute does not enforce the death penalty under ICC jurisdiction, but if Sheikh Hasina were tried domestically in Bangladesh or under international legal arrangements with a country that applies capital punishment, execution remains a possibility (ICC, 2025). Activists and human rights groups argue that justice should prevail through due legal process, ensuring that those responsible for the genocide face appropriate punishment (Amnesty International, 2025).

Conclusion: The July 2024 killings represent one of the darkest chapters in Bangladesh’s history. While the international community is pushing for accountability, many fear justice may be delayed due to political influences. The student movement and human rights activists continue to demand justice, calling for an independent tribunal to prosecute those responsible for the mass killings. If the UN’s genocide allegations hold, Sheikh Hasina’s government may go down in history as one that committed grave crimes against its own people to retain power. A conviction could result in severe penalties, including a potential death sentence, setting a precedent for international justice.

References

• Amnesty International. (2025). Bangladesh: Human rights violations in the July crackdown. AI Publications.


• Bangladesh Genocide Archive. (2025). Documenting the state-sponsored killings of 2024. Dhaka Press.


• Chowdhury, M. (2025). State-led genocide and political suppression in Bangladesh: A legal review. International Law Journal, 32(4), 215-230.


• Human Rights Watch. (2025). Crimes against humanity in Bangladesh: A call for justice. HRW Reports.


• International Criminal Court (ICC). (2025). Rome Statute and legal precedents for state crimes. ICC Reports.


• International Red Cross. (2025). Access to medical aid in conflict zones: The Bangladesh case. IRC Reports.


• Rahman, A. (2025). The anatomy of political genocide: Bangladesh’s struggle for democracy. South Asian Political Studies, 18(2), 125-140.


• Reuters. (2025). UN calls for thorough investigation into all killings during Bangladesh unrest. Retrieved from [insert link].


• United Nations Human Rights Office. (2025). Report on human rights violations in Bangladesh, July 2024. UNHRO Publications.


©Matiul Alam 2025