No one, repeat no one, in Bangladesh or elsewhere who tracks Bangladesh was surprised by the death penalty — handed down by the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka — to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, for crimes against humanity. It was long known and awaited.

There is little point in questioning the legality of a verdict that was the result of a string of legally questionable decisions starting from the formation of the government. Those in power wanted to throw Hasina out of the ring. Some wanted to take revenge. Some more wanted it out of fear of retribution.

Jamaat’s the one pulling the strings

Jamaat-e-Islami–led Islamic forces are the key movers behind the verdict. They wanted to exhibit raw power and they did it.

The mobilisat

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