DHAKA: Prosecutors in Bangladesh have demanded the death penalty for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is being tried in absentia on charges of crimes against humanity. The case stems from her alleged involvement in ordering a deadly crackdown during a student-led uprising last year.
According to prosecution lawyers, Sheikh Hasina fled to India in 2024 after being accused of using state forces to suppress demonstrations that turned violent. The United Nations reported that nearly 1,400 people were killed during the clashes between July and August 2024.
Chief prosecutor Tajul Islam told reporters that the demand for the death sentence was justified given the scale of the alleged killings. “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,” he said.
The prosecution in Bangladesh has accused Hasina, 78, of being the central figure behind the actions taken during the uprising. She is being tried alongside two former senior officials — ex-interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.
Kamal has also fled the country and remains a fugitive, while Al-Mamun is in custody and has reportedly pleaded guilty to his role in the events. Prosecutors are also seeking the death penalty for Kamal.
The high-profile trial, which began on June 1, has featured months of testimony and evidence alleging that Hasina ordered or failed to prevent widespread violence. Authorities claim her actions were driven by a desire to retain power for herself and her family.
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The case has drawn global attention, with international observers closely monitoring how Bangladesh handles one of the most significant political trials in its history.
