[kchoudhu]

There is.

Given the dynamics of Bangladeshi politics, a life sentence from the current government is actually a jailing until the opposition comes to power and pardons everyone convicted by its predecessor.

I'm against capital punishment, but I understand where the protesters are coming from: they want real justice for the atrocities in 1971, and see the death penalty as the only way to obtain lasting closure.

Politics in a democracy of 180MM people is really, really messy.

[seabee]

It seems messier than politics in a democracy of 300MM people or 70MM...

[kchoudhu]

You refer (I assume) to the UK and the US? One invented modern parliamentary democracy, and the other is a global superpower. Both have been at the business of democracy for 200+ years, and have never had to deal with the problem set Bangladesh is facing today.

Snark serves no one well.

[6cxs2hd6]

>>> Politics in a democracy of 180MM people is really, really messy.

>> It seems messier than politics in a democracy of 300MM people or 70MM...

> Snark serves no one well.

FWIW I didn't see it as snark. You seemed to imply the size of the democracy mattered. His/her response was a couple counter-factuals. Then you seemed to acknowledge it's not the size, it's the age of the democracy (which is a great point).

In any case I found the rest of your original post really helpful context, explaining why a "life" sentence probably won't turn out to be that. Thanks!