The formal indictment of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) marks a seismic moment in Bangladesh’s political and judicial history. After over a decade of near-unchallenged dominance, characterized by authoritarian governance, political suppression, and systemic abuse of power, Hasina now stands to face the consequences of her actions — not in the court of global opinion, but in a courtroom of law. This moment may be the beginning of long-delayed justice for a country that has for years been muffled under the weight of autocratic control. The ICT’s charges, stemming from Hasina’s alleged role in the bloody nationwide uprising of July 2024, are grave: crimes against humanity, including orchestrated crackdowns, unlawful detentions, and tacit approval of extrajudicial measures. While the tribunal’s authority and independence have at times been questioned, her case has drawn global attention for its potential to reassert rule of law in Bangladesh. The events of July 2024 were not spontaneous bursts of civil unrest — they were symptoms of a deeply repressive political environment fueled by decades of Hasina’s increasingly ham-handed governance. Throughout her extended tenure, Hasina cloaked herself in the legacy of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, while systematically dismantling the democratic architecture he helped build. Elections were marred by accusations of rigging, opposition parties were routinely suppressed, and journalists were silenced under draconian laws like the Digital Security Act. In the name of development, dissent was branded as treachery. What flourished was not democracy, but a tightly wound regime that tolerated no contradiction. The uprising of 2024 was the inevitable consequence of a nation long denied the right to breathe freely. When students, laborers, and civil society groups finally rose up, they were met not with dialogue or empathy, but with brute force. The charges against Hasina allege that she not only permitted but directed these responses — actions that crossed the line from political misjudgment into violations of international human rights law. It is important, however, that this trial not descend into a politically convenient spectacle. Justice must not only be done, but be seen to be done — transparently, impartially, and based on credible evidence. For Bangladesh, this is a chance to begin shedding the legacy of impunity that has plagued its leadership for far too long. The charges against Hasina are not just a personal reckoning; they are a litmus test for the resilience of democratic institutions in Bangladesh. If pursued with integrity, this trial could represent not merely the fall of a ruler, but the rise of a republic striving to reclaim its moral and constitutional footing.