From Hangman To TikTok Star: The Unusual Journey Of Bangladesh's Deadliest Hangman

The most lethal executioner in Bangladesh passed away on Monday, a year after being released from prison, where he carried out hangings of infamous serial killers, opposition politicians convicted of war crimes, and coup plotters, as per police reports.

Since his release in June last year, Shahjahan Bouya, aged 70, penned a bestselling book detailing his experiences as an executioner. He also made headlines for a brief marriage with a woman 50 years younger and gained TikTok fame with videos featuring teenage girls.

On Monday morning, Bouya experienced chest pain at his residence in Hemayetpur, near Dhaka, and was rushed to Suhrawardy Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to police.

"He was brought in dead-doctors are yet to determine the exact cause," stated Sajib Dey, a Dhaka police station chief.

"He faced breathing difficulties," mentioned Abul Kashem, Bouya's landlord. "He had rented a room here just 15 days ago and lived alone."

Bouya was serving a 42-year prison term for murder, but his numerous hangings during incarceration contributed to a sentence reduction, leading to his release from Dhaka's primary jail last year.

Bangladesh ranks third globally in terms of death sentences, with convicts often assigned to carry out hangings, according to Amnesty International.

A well-educated Marxist revolutionary, Bouya joined the outlawed Sarbahara rebels in the 1970s, aiming to overthrow a government they deemed as controlled by neighboring India.

He was convicted for a 1979 incident involving the death of a truck driver in a police crossfire.

During his 12-year trial, he observed the preferential treatment given to executioners, leading him to realize their significant influence. He then volunteered for the role.

Though authorities claim Bouya conducted 26 executions, he insists he was involved in 60.

His victims included military personnel charged with a 1975 coup and the assassination of the nation's founding leader, the father of current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Despite criticisms of Bangladesh's justice system, Bouya dismissed them, acknowledging doubts about the guilt of at least three executed individuals.

In February, his book recounting his tenure as an executioner became a bestseller at Bangladesh's annual book fair, delving into the hanging procedures inherited from British colonialism and detailing the final moments of prominent figures and serial killers in the country.