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Bangladesh's former prime minister has been handed capital punishment for atrocities due to her harsh response on youth demonstrations which caused her forced departure.

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

The trial proceeded in absentia by the special international tribunal in Bangladesh, having been exiled in India after being removed from office in July 2024.

Legal authorities charged her of being the mastermind of multiple fatalities during the protests. She has refuted the entire case, 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. Relatives of the deceased and wounded had requested strict sentences.

Responding to the decision in a detailed document, Hasina said the death penalty was the temporary leadership's way of "nullifying [her party] the Awami League" as a electoral entity and that she was satisfied of her leadership's history on civil liberties.

"I have no trepidation to confront those accusing me in a just legal forum where the facts can be assessed and tested fairly."

The capital, Dhaka, where the legal proceedings occurred, was under enhanced protection ahead of the verdict on Monday, with many of Hasina's critics staging a rally and celebrating as the sentence was declared.

The capital witnessed a notable rise in disturbances, with multiple explosives detonated and coaches ignited in the time before the verdict.

One explosive incident was reported in Dhaka on Monday morning, with no casualties reported, local police official Jisanul Haque told media outlets.

The youth-driven revolt last year began with demands to abolish public sector reservation policies but morphed into a wider anti-government movement.

International human rights monitors said in a report in February that the approximately 1,400 deaths could amount to "violations of human dignity".

The report documented the shooting at point-blank range of some protesters, the purposeful disabling of further participants, unwarranted detentions and abuse.

Leaked audio of a telephone conversation involving Hasina verified by external reviews in previous months suggested she had authorized the use of "lethal weapons" in July 2024. The sound file was broadcast in court during the proceedings.

Ahead of the verdict, family members of those fatally injured in the unrest stated to press outlets they wanted the former leader to face strict penalties.

A family representative, whose family member was fatally wounded in July 2024, said he wanted "severe penalty" for the former leader and associates who have "committed acts of vengeance and abused their power".

A different family member, whose spouse died near Dhaka in August 2024, said she wanted the former leader's punishment to be "implemented before the election".

"Exclusively thereafter the relatives of the deceased [in the protests] will find peace in their hearts."

Following her removal, an interim government led by economic expert Muhammad Yunus has assumed control. A general election is set for February 2026.

However, the Awami League, Hasina's political party, was banned by Bangladesh's temporary leadership in May.

The former leader cautioned during the past month that if the party's candidates were barred from participating in the forthcoming vote, numerous would avoid the ballot.

This decision presents a diplomatic challenge for the neighboring countries. Dhaka has formally requested her return but to date India has shown no willingness to comply.

Hasina's state-appointed lawyer her legal counsel said he was "disappointed and hoping the decision had been otherwise".

"I am unable to challenge because my clients are absent; which is why I am disheartened," he added.

Recently, her legal team said they had lodged a prompt application to the UN pointing out significant due process and judicial process problems at the ICT.

The former leader faced trial together with her previous domestic affairs official and security forces head.

Although the punishment offers some closure to families of killed in the protests, it may do little to soothe the nation's partisan rifts.

"The anger against the former leader and the Awami League has not diminished," a Dhaka-based rights activist told media outlets. "The leader and her faction has said sorry or displayed repentance for the fatalities of countless citizens."

She said "It makes it difficult for the organization to receive endorsement by a majority of people in this nation."

The campaigner further stated that the punishment was not resolution for the families of those who died and were wounded.

"We support numerous persons who suffered permanent amputations, they are amputees now, because of the suppression. They are incapable of excusing her."

David Bergman, an observer of Bangladeshi affairs, said the "inherent character of the guilty verdict could make it particularly hard" for Awami League to become a standard element of the country's governance system again.

This may change if "there is some kind of apology and a distancing from Sheikh Hasina and the former hierarchy," he said.