Muktadesh Desk: The International Crimes Tribunal’s verdict on the case of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who was a witness to the July-August mass uprising, will be announced tomorrow (Monday).
A three-member judicial panel led by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder of the International Crimes Tribunal-1 will announce the verdict today. The verdict will be broadcast live on Bangladesh Television (BTV).
Earlier, at a press conference on Thursday (November 13), the tribunal’s Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam said, “We have appealed to the court for the maximum punishment for them. The court will exercise its discretion, but we pray that the accused be given the maximum punishment for this crime.”
The prosecution has brought five charges in this much-discussed case and has sought the maximum punishment of death for Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. On the other hand, the state-appointed lawyer on behalf of the accused claimed innocence and sought their acquittal. In addition, the lawyer of former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, the royal witness, sought the acquittal.
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam, Prosecutor Mizanul Islam and Gazi S. H. Tamim conducted the hearing on behalf of the prosecution in this case. In addition, Prosecutor B. M. Sultan Mahmud, Shaikh Mahdi, Abdus Sattar Palawan and other prosecutors were present.
On the other hand, state-appointed lawyer Md. Amir Hossain conducted the hearing on behalf of the absconding accused Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. And lawyer Zayed bin Amzad conducted the hearing on behalf of royal witness Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.
Many of the bereaved families, including the father of Abu Sayeed, the first martyr of the mass uprising, testified in this historic case. In addition, Nahid Islam, convener of the Jatiya Nagorik Party and leader of the July Movement, and Dr. Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the daily Amar Desh, testified as star witnesses. A total of 54 witnesses testified in this case.
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 framed charges against Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and Abdullah Al-Mamun on July 10 and ordered the trial to begin. At one stage, former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun admitted his guilt and became a public witness in the investigation of the incident.
In July-August 2024, the Awami League government, its party cadres, and the government-loyal administration, along with a section of the law enforcement forces, committed genocide and crimes against humanity in suppressing the mass uprising of students and the public. One after another, charges were filed with the International Crimes Tribunal. Now, those charges are being tried in two International Crimes Tribunals.