Hasina receives death sentence on wedding anniversary

The death sentence handed down to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by the International Crimes Tribunal coincides with a special day in her life.She was sentenced to death for genocide and various crimes against humanity during the July uprising. The day of the verdict was her 58th wedding anniversary. The three-member tribunal headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder announced the much-discussed verdict on Monday (November 17, 2025).The day was very important in the personal life of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. On November 17, 1967, she married renowned nuclear scientist Dr. M. A. Wazed Miah. At that time, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was in prison. The wedding was organized under the supervision of her mother Fazilatun Nesa. Therefore, she had to hear the death sentence on the day of her 58th wedding anniversary. Hasty wedding arrangementsIn 1967, Sheikh Hasina married renowned nuclear scientist Dr. MA Wazed Mia under the supervision of her mother Fazilatun Nesa while Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was in prison. Fazilatun Nesa understood the political situation and completed the wedding ceremony in a hurry to avoid possible pressure from the government.The reason for rushing the wedding ceremony is mentioned in the book written by MA Wazed Mia according to Sheikh Hasina's statement. She said that seeing the huge public support for the historic 6-point declaration announced by the Father of the Nation in 1966, the then Governor Monem Khan's government started arresting her repeatedly to prevent her from addressing public meetings organized in different cities of the country. Finally, she was arrested under the Pakistan Defense Act and kept in Dhaka Central Jail for an indefinite period. It was because of this political instability and pressure that Mother Fazilatun Nesa arranged the wedding in a hurry. The court verdict proved three charges, which were brought after Sheikh Hasina was ousted. She was sentenced to life imprisonment for one of the charges and death penalty for two other serious crimes.In addition to Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal was sentenced to death for the same crime. On the other hand, former IGP Abdullah Al Mamun was sentenced to 5 years in prison by the International Crimes Tribunal for being a royal witness.