The death sentence issued against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has drawn new attention to a longstanding pattern in Bangladesh’s justice system: although more than one hundred women have received death sentences since independence, no woman has ever been executed, and Kashimpur Women’s Prison does not have a gallows.
Prosecutors clarified this week that while the Code of Criminal Procedure allows priority consideration for women during bail hearings, gender plays no role in sentencing. “Punishment is determined by the nature and gravity of the crime, not the accused’s gender,” said prosecutor Gazi Monwar Hussain.
Hasina’s conviction by the International Crimes Tribunal, on charges related to acts against humanity during the July mass uprising, differs significantly from previous cases involving women on death row. Past sentences for women such as Ayesha Siddika Minni, Kamrunnahar Moni, Umme Sultana Popi, Rita Akhter, Ruma alias Reshma, and Oishee Rahman have remained unexecuted due to High Court reviews, legal appeals, mercy petition delays, and the absence of execution facilities.
Prison authorities report 94 women currently on death row, including 34 in Kashimpur, many awaiting High Court reference hearings or appellate decisions.
Legal analysts note that Hasina’s case is distinct: it involves an international crime determination, and the accused is a fugitive. “It is uncertain whether she will return or whether the sentence can be carried out,” said Dhaka University law professor Dr. Arif Jamil, adding that the political and procedural context makes future outcomes unpredictable.
The verdict has renewed questions about gendered precedent in capital punishment, the lack of execution infrastructure for women, and how an exceptional political case intersects with an otherwise consistent pattern of non-implementation.
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