Bangladesh's former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has denied committing crimes against humanity during a deadly crackdown on last year's uprising that ousted her, days before the special tribunal trying her is due to deliver a verdict.
Hasina is accused of being the main architect behind hundreds of killings during the mass protests against her autocratic rule - an allegation she denies.
In her first interview with the BBC since she fled the country on 5 August 2024, she said her trial in absentia was a farce orchestrated by a kangaroo court controlled by political opponents.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Hasina if she is found guilty on Monday.
Hasina claimed the trial was destined to deliver a pre-ordained guilty verdict. Security has been tightened in and around the tribunal in the capital Dhaka ahead of Monday's verdict, marking a significant moment for the country as well as for the relatives of those killed during the student-led protests.
UN human rights investigators have reported that up to 1,400 people were killed when Hasina and her government used systematic, deadly violence against protesters in their bid to retain power.
The former prime minister, who refused to return from India to attend the trial, has been accused of personally ordering security forces to fire at protesters before she fled.
In an email interview, Hasina asserted she categorically denied such allegations, acknowledging that the situation escalated but insisting she never commanded violence against unarmed civilians.
Leaked audio of one of her phone calls suggested she had authorized the use of lethal weapons in a confrontation shortly before her departure.
Hasina was formally indicted along with two others in July, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty for the former home minister, who now remains hidden. Another former official has pleaded guilty but has not yet received sentencing.
In her remarks regarding the trial, Hasina expressed frustration at her inability to defend herself or select her legal representation, claiming her political adversaries aimed to dismantle her Awami League party as a political entity.
As the trial unfolds, calls have emerged from her legal team for urgent appeals to address serious concerns over fair trial rights and due process amid allegations of political bias in the proceedings.
Hasina's Awami League, currently barred from participating in the upcoming general elections, faces significant challenges as they navigate these contentious allegations and bids for power amidst an increasingly polarized political climate.
Hasina is accused of being the main architect behind hundreds of killings during the mass protests against her autocratic rule - an allegation she denies.
In her first interview with the BBC since she fled the country on 5 August 2024, she said her trial in absentia was a farce orchestrated by a kangaroo court controlled by political opponents.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Hasina if she is found guilty on Monday.
Hasina claimed the trial was destined to deliver a pre-ordained guilty verdict. Security has been tightened in and around the tribunal in the capital Dhaka ahead of Monday's verdict, marking a significant moment for the country as well as for the relatives of those killed during the student-led protests.
UN human rights investigators have reported that up to 1,400 people were killed when Hasina and her government used systematic, deadly violence against protesters in their bid to retain power.
The former prime minister, who refused to return from India to attend the trial, has been accused of personally ordering security forces to fire at protesters before she fled.
In an email interview, Hasina asserted she categorically denied such allegations, acknowledging that the situation escalated but insisting she never commanded violence against unarmed civilians.
Leaked audio of one of her phone calls suggested she had authorized the use of lethal weapons in a confrontation shortly before her departure.
Hasina was formally indicted along with two others in July, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty for the former home minister, who now remains hidden. Another former official has pleaded guilty but has not yet received sentencing.
In her remarks regarding the trial, Hasina expressed frustration at her inability to defend herself or select her legal representation, claiming her political adversaries aimed to dismantle her Awami League party as a political entity.
As the trial unfolds, calls have emerged from her legal team for urgent appeals to address serious concerns over fair trial rights and due process amid allegations of political bias in the proceedings.
Hasina's Awami League, currently barred from participating in the upcoming general elections, faces significant challenges as they navigate these contentious allegations and bids for power amidst an increasingly polarized political climate.
