Nairaroot Blog

Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death after a special tribunal found her guilty of crimes against humanity linked to the brutal crackdown on nationwide student protests last year.

The court ruled that Hasina, now 78 and living in exile in New Delhi, ordered and encouraged security forces to use deadly force against demonstrators. According to UN estimates, as many as 1,400 people were killed — most shot by security personnel — and more than 25,000 injured as protests escalated.

Judges said it was “crystal clear” that Hasina incited violence, ordered lethal action, and failed to punish those responsible. She was convicted on several charges, including murder, torture, extermination, and other inhumane acts.

Once one of South Asia’s most powerful leaders, Hasina ruled Bangladesh from 2009 until she was forced from office in 2024 after the student uprising. She denies all charges and was tried in her absence. Her legal team has already petitioned the UN, raising concerns about due process and a fair trial.

The interim Bangladeshi government has demanded her extradition from India — but New Delhi has yet to respond.

With national elections just months away, many fear this verdict could trigger new political unrest. 🇧🇩⚠️

The US House Subcommittee on Africa will hold an open hearing on Thursday, November 20, 2025, to examine President Donald Trump’s recent designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged attacks on Christians. If ratified by the Senate, the move could allow sanctions against officials linked to religious persecution and limit certain US aid.

The hearing, chaired by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), will feature two panels including US State Department officials, Nigerian religious leaders, and experts on religious freedom. Panelists will discuss the scope of persecution, policy responses, and potential sanctions.

Trump’s CPC designation has reignited debate about rising attacks on Christians in Nigeria, with the US claiming thousands have been killed by extremist groups. President Bola Tinubu maintains that the claims misrepresent Nigeria’s reality, emphasizing constitutional protections for religious freedom.

Supporting the focus on the issue, Pope Leo XIV expressed concern over global persecution of Christians, highlighting Nigeria, Bangladesh, Mozambique, and Sudan, and called for prayers for peace and unity.

US Congressmen, including Riley Moore, insist that evidence points to severe Christian-targeted violence, and that measures such as sanctions could deter further attacks.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu has deployed emissaries to Plateau State to foster peace between Christian communities and herdsmen, successfully mediating local disputes and promoting dialogue for long-term stability. ✌️🤝

The ongoing discussions highlight the international focus on Nigeria’s religious freedom and the balance between intervention, diplomacy, and grassroots peace efforts.

Nigerian students studying abroad under the Federal Government’s Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA), along with their parents, are set to stage a protest today at the Ministry of Finance in Abuja over unpaid scholarship stipends, which they say has left many of them in financial distress.

According to a notice from the Forum of BEA Scholars, the affected students are supposed to receive $500 monthly, but many have not been paid all year, leaving 11 months outstanding. In 2024, stipends were reportedly cut by 56 percent, with students receiving only $220. Arrears for September to December 2023 remain unpaid.

Students studying in countries such as Hungary, Morocco, China, Russia, and Serbia have reportedly struggled to afford food, accommodation, medical care, and transportation. Some have taken informal jobs or relied on charity, actions that violate the scholarship terms. The forum linked the recent death of a Nigerian student in Morocco to hardships caused by the stipend delays, warning that more students remain at risk.

The Federal Government previously announced the cancellation of the BEA scholarship programme, citing inefficiency and unsustainability. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, confirmed that BEA funding will now be redirected to domestic scholarships to benefit a larger number of students within Nigeria.

Despite the programme’s closure, students currently abroad remain stranded, demanding immediate payment of arrears and urgent attention to their plight.