'Legally Void': Sheikh Hasina Reaches Out, Asks Bangladesh Tribunal To Set Aside Death Sentence

A letter by Hasina's legal team urged the authorities to stop any move towards carrying out the verdict, arguing it will amount to "summary execution" and violate international law

In her first formal outreach since the Tarique Rahman-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party came to power in January, ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina approached the International Crimes Tribunal urging it to set aside the death sentence handed out to her last year.

Hasina’s representatives wrote a 10-page letter to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), challenging last year’s verdict

In the letter sent on Hasina’s behalf, her legal team has asked the ICT to scrap the judgment calling it “legally void". It urged the authorities to stop any move towards carrying out the sentence, arguing that doing so will amount to “summary execution" and violate international law.

“No steps be taken to execute the death sentence, which would constitute summary execution in violation of international law," the letter read.

The communication was sent by London-based law firm Kingsley Napley, which is representing her. It made it clear that she is willing to engage with the process, saying she is ready to “participate meaningfully" before what she believes should be an independent and impartial tribunal.

This is a sharp but seemingly subtle departure from the way ‘Team Hasina’ handled the Muhammad Yunus-led regime. Last December, when Yunus was still in power, her team sent another letter to the ICT.