Bangladeshi former prime minister Sheikh Hasina Photo: VCG

A Bangladeshi court has sentenced former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity during July uprising last year, Bangladeshi media reported Monday. The Daily Star wrote that Hasina in a statement said the verdict announced against her today was "biased and politically motivated".

In addition to sentencing Hasina and former Home Minister Khan to death, Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal has also ordered the confiscation of their properties, according to Al Jazeera.

The International Crimes Tribunal, has ordered 78-year-old Hasina to return from India and face trial. She is accused of ordering a violent police response to a student protest, which led to her being removed from power last year, according to Xinhua News Agency.

India's External Affairs Ministry has issued a statement addressing the guilty verdict against Hasina. The statement said India, where Hasina has been living in exile, has "noted the verdict" and "remains committed to the best interests of the people of Bangladesh".

The statement did not respond to Bangladesh's call for India to extradite Hasina and former Home Minister Khan.

One Al Jazeera' report wrote that it is highly unlikely that India will extradite Sheikh Hasina to Bangladesh. Hasina's son has spoken in the media, saying she'll never be extradited - that the Indians will ensure her security.

This could cause a diplomatic problem between the two countries, whose relations are already at a low point, per Al Jazeera. 

Global Times