Was Sheikh Hasina given the death penalty for modernizing Bangladesh?

“Every great nation is born from a dream—a bold vision that breaks through walls of limitation, challenge, and doubt.”

After the death sentence was announced against former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a case involving crimes against humanity, the country’s political arena erupted in criticism. People are asking how the leader who worked tirelessly to modernize the country could receive such a verdict. Many see it as an attack on sixteen years of progress and modernization.

Sixteen years ago, the dream Sheikh Hasina imagined for Bangladesh wasn’t just about roads, bridges, or skyscrapers. It was a dream of dignity, self-reliance, and progress. Today, the majestic Padma Bridge, the roaring metro rail lines in Dhaka, and the Bangabandhu Tunnel beneath the Karnaphuli River—all of these are real reflections of that dream. What once seemed impossible has become part of our everyday reality.

Padma Bridge:

There are moments in a nation’s life that define its confidence. For Bangladesh, that moment was the Padma Bridge. When the international community doubted the country’s capability, Sheikh Hasina declared firmly: “We will build the Padma Bridge with our own funds.”

This wasn’t just an infrastructure project. It was a statement of national confidence. Against all odds, Bangladesh built this 6.15-kilometer engineering marvel with domestic financing.

It connected 21 southern districts to the country’s main landmass.

Economists say the Padma Bridge has increased Bangladesh’s GDP by up to 1.3 percent. It has opened new horizons in trade, tourism, and agriculture. It proved that Bangladesh can.

Under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, mega projects injected world-class dynamism into the heart of Bangladesh.

Metro Rail:

It marked a new era in Dhaka’s history. A journey from Uttara to Motijheel that once took more than two hours now takes just 40 minutes. It saves time and improves quality of life.

Bangabandhu Tunnel:

This tunnel under the Karnaphuli River is the first of its kind in South Asia. Linking both banks of Chattogram, it created a new horizon for trade and communication. As a new economic corridor, it is boosting growth and export efficiency. Symbolically, it shows that Bangladesh is now leading in innovation.

Economic growth and digital transformation

In the past sixteen years, Bangladesh’s economy has expanded, diversified, and become more inclusive.

100 Economic Zones:

Under Sheikh Hasina’s initiative, 100 economic zones are being developed across the country. These zones open new doors for investors and are transforming Bangladesh into a global hub for ready-made garments, IT, manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals. They are creating millions of jobs and turning rural regions into thriving economic centers.

“Digital Bangladesh” was once a dream. Today it is reality. Through e-governance, citizens now receive public services quickly and transparently online. The IT sector has become a powerful engine of growth, giving more than a million young professionals and freelancers independence, confidence, and global recognition.

Her vision for progress wasn’t limited to the ground. Modernization of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and other airports has pushed Bangladesh into a new era of trade, tourism, and global connectivity.

For sixteen years, Sheikh Hasina carried a dream of a proud, modern, and self-reliant Bangladesh. She built bridges where others saw rivers, metro lines where others saw traffic jams, and industries where others saw uncertainty. Her Vision 2041 was even more ambitious.

Today, as the architect of that transformation faces a death sentence, many are asking: is this harsh punishment the price for dreaming of a modern Bangladesh? Her legacy survives in every car crossing every bridge, in every academic institution, and in the minds of citizens across the country. The verdict has pushed the nation into deep uncertainty about its political future and its path of progress.⁩