Hasina’s Death Sentence: Letter from UK Law Firm 'Contemptuous,' Says Chief Prosecutor

The letter sent to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) by a London-based law firm seeking to cancel Sheikh Hasina’s death sentence is "contemptuous of court," Chief Prosecutor Md. Aminul Islam said on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters on April 2, the Chief Prosecutor clarified that there is no legal provision for a death-row convict to petition the tribunal via a foreign law firm while remaining a fugitive.

"The letter was sent intentionally to dispute the tribunal's proceedings," Islam stated. He emphasized that under Bangladeshi law, an accused must appear in person to appeal a verdict. "There is no scope for sending a letter through a law firm in the absence of the accused."

While the ICT Registrar and Chief Prosecutor’s Office have not officially received the document from the firm Kingsley Napley, officials became aware of the move through media reports. The UK-based firm reportedly emailed the tribunal on March 30, claiming the trial held in absentia violated international justice standards and was "illegal."

Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to death on November 17, 2024, for crimes against humanity during the August 2024 uprising. As she remains in India, the tribunal had appointed a state-run defense lawyer during her trial. According to the law, only the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court holds the authority to modify or uphold the ICT's verdict.