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Bangladesh's former prime minister has been sentenced to death for atrocities stemming from her crackdown on youth demonstrations which resulted in her removal from power.

Hasina was declared culpable of allowing lethal force to be used against activists, with approximately 1,400 individuals lost their lives during the unrest in the previous year.

Legal proceedings were conducted while she was absent by the International Crimes Court in Bangladesh, having been exiled in India after being removed from office in July 2024.

The prosecution alleged of being responsible for hundreds of killings during the protests. Hasina has denied all charges, calling the trial as "biased and politically motivated".

The decision signifies a decisive point for Bangladesh, as the protests unleashed anger over years of repression. Next of kin of victims and wounded had requested tough penalties.

Reacting to the verdict in a detailed document, she expressed the death penalty was the temporary leadership's way of "eradicating the Awami League" as a governing body and that she was satisfied of her administration's performance on human rights.

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

Bangladesh's main city, Dhaka, where the tribunal took place, was under enhanced protection before the verdict on Monday, with many of Hasina's critics staging a rally and cheering as the judgment was announced.

The city has seen a notable rise in unrest, with dozens of bombs exploded and coaches ignited in the time before the verdict.

At least one bomb explosion was reported in Dhaka on Monday morning, with no victims identified, area law enforcement officer the police spokesperson told news organizations.

The protest movement led by students in the previous year began with demands to abolish state employment quotas but evolved into a more extensive dissent initiative.

UN human rights investigators said in a report in February that the nearly 1,400 casualties could amount to "violations of human dignity".

The paper detailed the shooting at point-blank range of some protesters, the purposeful disabling of additional individuals, unwarranted detentions and mistreatment.

Leaked audio of a call made by the former leader confirmed by media examinations during the current year suggested she had approved the use of "deadly arms" in July 2024. The recording was presented in court during the proceedings.

Before the decision, family members of those who died in the demonstrations told news agencies they wanted the former leader to face strict penalties.

One relative, whose family member was fatally wounded in July 2024, said he wanted "severe penalty" for the former leader and associates who have "performed revengeful deeds and abused their power".

A different family member, whose partner was fatally injured near Dhaka in August 2024, said she wanted her penalty to be "implemented before the election".

"Solely at that point the families of those killed [in the protests] will achieve closure in their hearts."

Following her removal, an temporary leadership led by economist Muhammad Yunus has assumed power. A general election is scheduled for February 2026.

Nevertheless, the Hasina's political party, the former ruling party, was banned by Bangladesh's temporary leadership in May.

Hasina warned last month that if the her faction's nominees were barred from participating in the forthcoming vote, countless would abstain the ballot.

The verdict now poses a diplomatic challenge for both nations. Dhaka has formally requested her return but so far India has expressed no readiness to comply.

The legal representative assigned to her the defense lawyer said he was "disappointed and hoping the outcome had varied".

"I even cannot appeal because my defendants are not present; which is why I am sad," he stated further.

Last week, her legal team said they had lodged a prompt application to the UN raising serious fair trial and judicial process problems at the ICT.

The former leader faced trial alongside her ex-interior minister and security forces head.

Even though the verdict offers some closure to kin of victims in the protests, it may have minimal effect on calming the nation's partisan rifts.

"The fury directed at Hasina and the Awami League has not subsided," a human rights advocate from the capital told press agencies. "Both she and the organization has apologised or shown any remorse for the killings of hundreds of people."

She said "This complicates matters for the organization to receive endorsement by a bulk of the population in this nation."

The advocate continued that the punishment was not finality for the kin of those fatally and non-fatally harmed.

"We support multiple individuals who suffered permanent amputations, they are currently without limbs, because of the suppression. They cannot pardon her."

A journalist, a journalist and a long-time Bangladesh watcher, said the "fundamental aspect of the condemnation could make it increasingly challenging" for the political faction to become a standard element of the nation's political landscape again.

This could alter if "an expression of regret occurs and a disassociation with the former leader and the old leadership," he expressed.