Bangladesh prosecution seeks death penalty for ex-PM Sheikh Hasina over protest killings
Independent2 days
Bangladesh Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty for Ex-PM Hasina
Above: Sheikh Hasina at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, on June 22, 2024. Image copyright: Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
Sheikh Hasina deserves the death penalty for orchestrating the brutal massacre of 1,400 innocent protesters during the July-August uprising. Audio recordings prove she directly ordered security forces to use lethal weapons and shoot protesters wherever they found them. This hardened criminal clung to power through mass murder and shows zero remorse for her crimes against humanity.
Government-critical narrative
The trial against Hasina is a political vendetta masquerading as justice. Sheikh Hasina transformed Bangladesh into a modern success story through visionary leadership that delivered real progress for millions. Her achievements include the Padma Bridge, Metro Rail, 100 economic zones and community clinics that reached every doorstep. Without her steady hand, Bangladesh now faces uncertainty under an extremist-enabling interim government.