Death sentence against Hasina, Asaduzzaman ensures justice, says BNP’s Salahuddin

A “fascist” ruler must face justice in the end, he says

Bangladesh Nationalist Party Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed says the death sentence against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina has ensured justice.

The senior BNP leader made the remark in an immediate reaction to the media after the verdict in the crimes against humanity case was delivered on Monday afternoon.

“The International Crimes Tribunal has established justice,” said Salahuddin.

He said the verdict also establishes that no matter how powerful a “fascist” force is, it must face justice.

Hasina fled to India in the face of a student-led mass uprising, putting an end to 15 years of Awami League rule. The former home minister in her government, Asaduzzaman Khan, is also believed to be hiding in India.

Hasina became the first former head of a Bangladesh government to be handed down the death penalty.

The tribunal that ordered Hasina to walk the gallows was formed by her government for trying war crimes during Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War.

Five Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and a Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader were executed during the Awami League rule for war crimes following their trials under the tribunal.

Meanwhile, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, the police chief at the time of the July Uprising, was also convicted in the case but had his sentence reduced to five years in prison after turning state witness.

The verdict, he said, serves as a stark reminder that “fascism” and “authoritarianism” are never acceptable in a democratic society.

Salahuddin described the ruling as “insufficient” in relation to the severity of the offences, but expressed regret that the law did not provide for a harsher penalty than that handed down to Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, both of whom were sentenced to death.

Hasina fled to India amid a student-led uprising that ended the Awami League’s 15-year rule, while Asaduzzaman is also believed to be in hiding there. With this ruling, Hasina becomes the first former head of a Bangladeshi government to be sentenced to death.

The tribunal that issued the death sentence had been originally established by Hasina’s government to try war crimes committed during the 1971 Liberation War.

Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who served as police chief during the July Uprising, was also convicted in the case. Having cooperated as a state witness, his sentence was reduced to five years in prison.