Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to life in prison on Monday for crimes against humanity, Reuters reported, BTA reported.
The decision was made several months before parliamentary elections scheduled for early February.
The People's League - Hasina's party, is not allowed to participate in the election race and its members fear that the former leader's sentence could spark new unrest in the country.
The court handed down the sentence amid tight security measures and Hasina was not present when the decision was announced. In August 2024, she fled to India.
The verdict can be appealed in the Supreme Court.
Hasina's son, who is also her advisor, told Reuters before the decision was announced that she would not appeal the verdict unless a democratically elected government with the participation of the People's League came to power.