Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal’s chief prosecutor on Thursday sought the death penalty for deposed premier Sheikh Hasina, alleging that she was the “mastermind and principal architect” behind the crimes against humanity committed during the mass protests last year.
Hasina, 78, faces multiple cases in Bangladesh after being ousted in August last year following the mass student-led agitation in the country. According to a UN rights office report, up to 1,400 people were killed between July 15 and August 15 last year as Hasina’s government ordered a security crackdown on protesters. “Sheikh Hasina is the mastermind of all the crimes. She is an unrepentant, heartless criminal. She deserves the maximum punishment. No mercy should be shown to her regarding the death penalty,” Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam was quoted as saying by the state-run BSS news agency.
“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 in order to establish rightful justice, so that in future no one can kill the citizens of their own country in this way,” he added.
Hasina’s supporters say the charges against her are politically motivated. There was no immediate comment from Hasina or her party on the development.
