At least 2,000 people are believed to be under the sentence of death

‘The death penalty is never the solution’ - Chiara Sangiorgio

In response to the late-night execution of two men on death row in the Rajshahi Central Jail of Bangladesh, Chiara Sangiorgio, Amnesty International’s death penalty expert, said:

“The recent executions and the persistent use of the death penalty in Bangladesh shows the Government’s continued callous disregard for the right to life. 

“The death penalty is never the solution. Regardless of the crimes committed, no one should suffer this ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment - there is no credible evidence that the death penalty has a unique deterrent effect.

“We are calling on the Bangladeshi government to establish an official moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty in the country.

“The authorities must also review the cases of all those currently under a death sentence with the aim of commuting their sentences or offering them a fair retrial without recourse to the death penalty.”

Executions

The executions of Mia Mohammad Mohiuddin and Jahangir Alam were conducted yesterday (27 July) at Rajshahi Central Jail. Both had been convicted in the Rajshahi University teacher Prof S Taher Ahmed 2006 murder case.

Between January 2018 and December 2022, Amnesty recorded that at least 13 people were executed in Bangladesh, and 912 death sentences were imposed by trial courts.

As of December 2022, at least 2,000 people are believed to be under the sentence of death. Earlier this year in February, another man was executed for murder at Kashimpur Central jail in Bangladesh.