'Hasina has no option but to face death sentence if she returns to Bangladesh': Prosecutor
Bangladesh prosecutor says Sheikh Hasina must face her death sentence if she returns, as her lawyers seek a new passport and identity card
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has “no option” but to face a death sentence if she returns to the country, the chief prosecutor of Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal said on Tuesday (November 10). His remarks came amid reports that Hasina was planning to travel back from India.
“Sheikh Hasina has no option but to face the execution of the verdict,” news agency AFP quoted Md Aminul Islam as saying.
Hasina left Bangladesh in August 2024 after a mass uprising ousted her from power. A tribunal later sentenced her to death for crimes against humanity over the alleged crackdown on protesters that year. She has said she intends to return and face the court.
“I may be sent to prison or be killed, but fear cannot decide my duty to the people,” she said earlier this year as quoted by the Hindustan Times.
Prosecutor questions Hasina's plan to return
Aminul questioned why Hasina had not returned during the trial or within the period allowed for filing an appeal.
“If she genuinely wanted to return to Bangladesh, she would have come back while the trial was ongoing and faced the case. She would also have returned within 30 days of the publication of the verdict to file an appeal,” The Daily Star quoted him as saying.
Also Read: Hasina seeks fresh passport ahead of planned December return to Bangladesh
He also argued that the law did not permit fresh travel documents for a person sentenced to death. Citing the Bangladesh Passport Order, 1973, he referred to Articles 6 and 7, which restrict passport issuance to convicted persons, particularly those given prison terms of at least two years for offences involving moral turpitude. He said crimes against humanity fall within this category.
Hasina seeks new passport and identity card
Hasina's London-based lawyers wrote to the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Monday (November 9) seeking a new passport and National Identity Card, reported the Hindustan Times.
Also Read: Bangladesh law minister calls Sheikh Hasina a 'convicted criminal'
“In view of the reported revocation of her existing Bangladeshi passport and National Identity Card (NID) by the Interim Government and other authorities, I respectfully request that you take the necessary steps to issue a new Bangladeshi passport and National Identity Card for our client,” the letter stated.
Aminul said the request had not come directly from Hasina. “If she genuinely wants to return, she should make a written request to the Indian government seeking her return under the extradition treaty.”
What Bangladesh minister said
Hours after the application, Bangladesh's minister of state for foreign affairs Humaiun Kobir referred to the treaty with India.
“She can ask India to hand her over through the extradition treaty,” he said. “Bangladesh does not give passports to terrorists. It asks for them to be handed over,” he added.
Dhaka has repeatedly sought Hasina's extradition. New Delhi has said it is reviewing the requests.