 "The photograph shows former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. (Photo: Reuters)")
Bangladesh’s interim government on Thursday sought death penalty for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Bangladesh’s Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam has charged Hasina with crimes against humanity for her alleged actions during last year’s anti-government protests that ouster her. She and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan are being tried in absentia at the country’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).
As street violence surged, Hasina resigned and fled to India on August 5, 2024. She is believed to be staying in New Delhi since her ouster.
Hasina should be sentenced to death 1,400 times, says chief prosecutor
Ideally, Hasina should be sentenced to death 1,400 times for deaths of 1,400 people during anti-government protests, according to Chief Prosecutor Islam.
But, since that is not possible, Hasina should be sentenced at least once, according to Islam.
“We demand the highest punishment for her. For a single murder, one death penalty is the rule. For 1,400 murders, she should be sentenced 1,400 times but since that is not humanly possible, we demand at least one,” said Islam, as per AFP.
The prosecution has alleged that Hasina was “the nucleus around whom all the crimes committed during the July–August uprising revolved”.
Islam further said, “Her goal was to cling to power permanently — for herself and her family.”
In 46 days of anti-government protests in Bangladesh last year, as many as 1,400 people were killed, according to a report by UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
The report said that most of the people were killed by state security forces.
In Hasina and Khan’s case, the third accused, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, became a state witness and offered to disclose full details of Hasina and Khan’s alleged crimes.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIslam has said that Mamun’s confession appears to be truthful and comprehensive, and the ICT will consider his cooperation when determining the verdict in the case, according to Bangla-language Prothom Alo newspaper.