Past sins, new horizons:
Hangman Shahjahan's life After Prison

Shahjahan Bhuiyan stepped out of Dhaka Central Jail after 44 long years, squinting against the unfamiliar sunlight of freedom. Once known as "Jallad Shahjahan," the chief executioner who had taken 60 lives, he now faced a world that felt alien. Smartphones and modern technology left him bewildered, while his ageing body ached with health issues. The prison, his home for decades, had faded into a distant memory, now replaced by a small rented room and the unexpected kindness of strangers. As he navigated his new life, Shahjahan struggled with loneliness, the curious stares of the public, and the heavy burden of his past. With his family long gone, he found solace in teaching a young boy named Kamal, hoping to pass on some of his hard-earned wisdom. Clinging to the hope of government assistance, Shahjahan tried to piece together a future from the fragments of his past. Each day was a battle to reconcile his notorious history with the uncertainties ahead, holding onto the piece of rope from his last execution—a tangible reminder of the life he left behind.

-This is The Business Standards' exclusive story, which was written by Nusmila Lohani, along with photos taken by Nayem Ali.