In a discussion, Gita Das, president of the non-governmental organization “Naripokkho” emphasized that it is not the role of the state to take lives, but rather to ensure the protection of life and uphold human rights.
Speaking at a webinar titled "Human Rights and the Death Penalty" on Tuesday, Gita Das articulated her organization's firm stance against the death penalty, advocating for a justice system focused on rehabilitation rather than execution.
She argued against the death penalty, asserting that the state should focus on rehabilitating offenders instead of resorting to execution.
She reiterated Naripokkho's consistent opposition to the death penalty for war criminals, maintaining that "our position remains unchanged."
Gita Das urged the removal of the death penalty from legal statutes, proposing life imprisonment as an alternative. However, she pointed out that existing laws often impose a much shorter sentence, sometimes as little as nine years.
During the discussion, Warda Ashraf, a Naripokkho member, suggested methods for implementing alternative punishments swiftly without resorting to the death penalty for serious offenders.
Moure Akhtar Tumpa, representing the youth generation, argued that no punishment is harsher than the remorse felt by the guilty.
She emphasized that the death penalty could lead to suffering for the families of the condemned.
Tumpa also called for necessary reforms in the prison system to prevent corruption and ensure the rehabilitation of offenders.
Zohirul Islam, a representative of the Patuakhali-based organization "Tarunner Konthosor," stressed the need for a movement against the death penalty while ensuring that criminals face justice.
He said that the death penalty is not a solution, advocating instead for measures that allow for the rehabilitation of offenders.
Kamrun Nahar, a Naripokkho member, concluded by noting that in many cases, individuals punished by the state were later found to be innocent.