Shahjahan Bouya, Bangladesh’s most infamous executioner, known for hanging both serial killers and politicians, has died at the age of 74. He was admitted to a hospital in Dhaka on Monday after experiencing chest pains but passed away before receiving treatment. Bouya led a complex and controversial life. A former revolutionary, he became a hangman while serving a 42-year prison sentence for robbery and murder.
Bouya’s decision to take on the role of executioner was driven by a desire to reduce his jail time, a move that saw him released in 2023, 10 years early. Throughout his career, he executed a number of high-profile individuals, including military officers convicted of assassinating Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh and father of the current prime minister. He also carried out the executions of politicians Ali Ahsan Mujahid and Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, who were both convicted of war crimes, and the notorious serial killer Ershad Shikder.
Bouya consistently defended his work as a hangman, reportedly stating, “If I didn’t hang them, someone else would.” Earlier this year, he published a book detailing his experiences and explaining the execution process, which garnered significant attention. Since his release from prison last June, Bouya wrote a best-selling book detailing his experiences as a hangman, and recently gained popularity on TikTok with short clips featuring teenage girls.
On Monday (June 24), Bouya experienced chest pain at his home in Hemayetpur, an industrial town near Dhaka, and was rushed to Suhrawardy Hospital in the capital. “He was brought in dead — doctors haven’t ascertained the actual cause of his death,” said Sajib Dey, a police station chief in Dhaka. Abul Kashem, Bouya’s landlord, stated that the hangman was having breathing difficulties and that he had rented one of their rooms only 15 days ago.
Bouya had been serving a 42-year prison term for murder. However, the dozens of executions he carried out in jail helped reduce his sentence, leading to his release from Dhaka’s top prison. After his release, Bouya briefly married a woman 50 years his junior, a relationship that led to legal complications.
