Families of victims of the July uprising have demanded the death penalty for former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in the ongoing war crimes case linked to the events of July 2024. 

They raised the demand on Monday while speaking to the media outside the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka.

Syed Gaziur Rahman, father of slain student Syed Muntasir Rahman, said the crimes committed during the uprising were “beyond forgiveness,” alleging that the former premier should receive a “strict and exemplary punishment.”

“For the crimes of enforced disappearances and killings, even fourteen thousand executions would not be enough. But a person can be executed only once. My demand is that this execution be public so the nation finds closure,” he said.

He added that his 14-year-old son, who had recently earned an A+ in science in the Dakhil exams, was shot dead in Jatrabari. “I believed he would stand against injustice… the nation has lost a piece of gold. Who else will make such a sacrifice?” he said.

When asked about the feasibility of enforcing a sentence on the former premier, who is currently outside Bangladesh, Rahman said, “Why wouldn’t it be possible to bring her back? Other countries are not giving her visas. When their interests end, even India will not keep her. We want her execution to take place during this government’s tenure.”

Abu Bakar Siddique, father of martyr Hafizul Sikder, echoed the same demand. He said his son was killed on 20 July last year at the Post Office intersection in Badda.

“Only sentencing her is not enough. She must be brought back from India and the sentence must be carried out. The pain of losing a son—no one else will understand,” he said, adding that the families want the execution to take place publicly “on Bangladeshi soil” for the sake of justice and closure.

The International Crimes Tribunal is scheduled to deliver its verdict in the case on Monday. The prosecution has brought five charges of crimes against humanity against the three accused, including Sheikh Hasina, related to killings, arson, and alleged instigation during the July events.