Hasina to Face First Crimes Against Humanity Verdict on Nov 17
Dhaka: The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has set next Monday (November 17) for delivering the verdict in the crimes against humanity case filed against deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two other accused in connection with atrocities committed during the July Uprising.
The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, announced the date on Thursday. The other two members of the panel are Justice Md Shofiul Alam Mahmud and Justice Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.
Alongside Sheikh Hasina, the other accused in the case are former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. Among them, former IGP Mamun has given a confessional statement as an approver (state witness).
Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, the International Crimes Tribunal was reconstituted. The first case brought before the new tribunal concerned crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the July Uprising, naming Sheikh Hasina as the initial accused.
The tribunal began its first proceedings on October 17 last year, when an arrest warrant was issued against Sheikh Hasina. Initially, she was the sole accused, but on March 16 this year, prosecutors filed a petition to include former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun as a co-accused, which the tribunal granted.
After several extensions, the tribunal’s investigation agency submitted its conclusive report to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office on May 12 this year.
On June 1, the prosecution formally submitted charges against Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan, and Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, bringing a total of five allegations against them.
According to the formal charges, Sheikh Hasina delivered an inflammatory speech during a press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office on July 14 last year; ordered the use of helicopters, drones, and lethal weapons against protesters; was responsible for the killing of Begum Rokeya University student Abu Sayeed in Rangpur; and for the fatal shootings of six demonstrators in Dhaka’s Chankharpool area and the burning deaths of six others in Ashulia.
The tribunal framed the formal charges on July 10. Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan remain fugitives, while former IGP Mamun is the only accused in custody.
On the day charges were framed, Mamun admitted his involvement in the crimes committed during the July Uprising and sought to become a state witness (approver).
The final arguments in the case began on October 12 and concluded on October 23. Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam demanded the death penalty for Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan for their roles in crimes against humanity.
State-appointed lawyer Md Amir Hossain, representing the two absconding accused, appealed for their acquittal, while Mamun’s counsel, Zayed Bin Amjad, also sought his client’s release.
At the conclusion of arguments on October 23, the tribunal announced that the date for the verdict would be declared on November 13. Accordingly, the tribunal on Thursday fixed November 17 as the date for pronouncing the verdict.
