West Bengal Leader of Opposition in Bengal Assembly and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari today alleged that the death sentence awarded to former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was “done on the orders of Pakistan”, claiming that the verdict lacked legitimacy and reflected a wider political conspiracy. “This has been done on Pakistan’s orders. It will not be implemented. Sheikh Hasina may be from another country, but she is linked with the culture of the Bengalis. She is a progressive Muslim. Sheikh Hasina was not associated with extremists,” Adhikari said.
Supporting Adhikari’s remarks, Pankaj Debnath, Member of Parliament from Barishal-4, told The Statesman that the Bengal Opposition leader’s statement “is very much appropriate for the present context in Bangladesh”. He said global criticism over the judgement underscored its questionable nature. “Hasina’s death sentence has been condemned across the world. Even the United Nations has raised concerns about the nature of justice delivered by Bangladesh’s ‘kangaroo court’. Amnesty International has also criticised the verdict.
Prominent political personalities in West Bengal have joined this condemnation. This is very important for us. Neither the trial nor the punishment was fair or just. In this case, Jamaat leader’s lawyer Tajul Islam himself is the chief prosecutor. It is a mockery of justice,” Debnath said.
Meanwhile, responding to Dhaka’s fast-changing political situation, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) stated that India has “taken note” of the verdict announced by the “International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh” concerning Sheikh Hasina.
Reiterating that India remains committed to the welfare of the people of Bangladesh, the MEA said: “As a close neighbour, India remains committed to the best interests of the people of Bangladesh, including in peace, democracy, inclusion and stability in that country. We will always engage constructively with all stakeholders to that end.”A Bangladesh court on Monday afternoon found the ousted former Prime Minister guilty of committing “crimes against humanity” during the July–August 2024 uprising. According to local media reports, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 sentenced her to death after finding her guilty on all five charges. The Awami League chief, who is currently in exile in India, was tried in absentia. The 78-year-old leader left Dhaka for New Delhi shortly after her government collapsed during the 2024 unrest. Reacting sharply to the judgement, Hasina described the trial as politically motivated and conducted by a government lacking democratic legitimacy. In a statement released by the Awami League, she said the verdict reflected the “brazen and murderous intent of extremist figures within the interim government to eliminate Bangladesh’s last elected prime minister and nullify the Awami League as a political force.”