Bangladesh Prosecutor Seeks Death Penalty for Former PM Sheikh Hasina
Bangladesh’s chief prosecutor has formally requested the death penalty for deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, calling her the “mastermind and principal architect” of crimes against humanity during last year’s mass protests.
Key Developments
- Prosecution seeks death penalty for Sheikh Hasina over protest deaths
- UN report estimates 1,400 killed during July-August 2023 crackdown
- Hasina and former minister reportedly absconding in India
- Extradition request pending with Indian authorities
Prosecution’s Case
The Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal heard Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam describe the 78-year-old former leader as an “unrepentant, heartless criminal” who deserved maximum punishment. According to state-run BSS news agency, Islam stated: “For the murder of 1,400 people, she ought to have been hanged 1,400 times. But since that is not possible, it is appropriate to impose the maximum punishment.”
The prosecution alleges Hasina’s government ordered a security crackdown that resulted in up to 1,400 deaths between July 15 and August 15 last year, based on UN rights office reports.
Other Accused
The prosecution also sought maximum punishment for former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, naming him as part of the “Gang of Four” responsible for suppressing the July-August Mass Uprising. Regarding former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who has pleaded guilty and turned approver, the prosecution left sentencing to the tribunal’s discretion.
Legal Proceedings
The case includes five charges of crimes against humanity and mass killings against Hasina, Kamal, and Al-Mamun. A total of 54 prosecution witnesses have testified and been cross-examined by defense counsel.
Prosecutor Tajul informed the court that both Hasina and Kamal are absconding, with intelligence reports suggesting they are in India. Hasina fled Bangladesh on August 5 last year amid escalating unrest.
Political Context
The interim government under Muhammad Yunus has sought Hasina’s extradition, though India has yet to respond. Hasina’s supporters maintain the charges are politically motivated. The tribunal, originally established to try collaborators from Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War, was repurposed by Yunus’s administration to try leaders of the previous government.
