Muktadesh Desk: The International Crimes Tribunal was formed on March 25, 2010, during the tenure of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government. The tribunal focused on the trials of crimes committed during the Liberation War. Hasina was sentenced to death by the tribunal she created.
On August 5 last year, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government fell. She fled the country and sought refuge in India. The International Crimes Tribunal was reconstituted in that country. The first case against her began in the tribunal created by Hasina’s government. In addition, 586 cases have been filed against Hasina in various courts and police stations across the country.
Apart from Hasina, there are two others on the list of accused. One is former Home Minister of Bangladesh Asaduzzaman Khan and the second is former IGP of Bangladesh Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.
Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has also been sentenced to death. The International Crimes Tribunal has given him a reduced sentence of 5 years in prison as the other accused, former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, was a witness in the case.
On Monday, at around 2:15 pm, the three-member tribunal led by International Crimes Tribunal-1 judge Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumdar announced the verdict. The other members of the tribunal are Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired District and Sessions Judge Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury. Earlier, the verdict reading began at 12:34 pm.
The tribunal said that three charges against Sheikh Hasina have been proven. The International Crimes Tribunal sentenced her to life imprisonment on the first charge and death on the second charge.
The judge read out a summary of the 453-page verdict divided into 6 parts. The verdict reading began at 12:34 pm. The judge read out a summary of the verdict until 2:15 pm. Later, he announced the verdict.
In the verdict, the court said that Sheikh Hasina committed crimes against humanity. At the same time, evidence of crimes against humanity was found against Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Chowdhury Mamun. Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun has revealed the truth by becoming a royal witness. Although Mamun’s sentence for his crime is the highest, his sentence will be reduced for revealing the truth.
This is the first verdict in the history of Bangladesh against a person holding the highest position in the government for genocide by the International Crimes Tribunal. The verdict in Hasina’s case was broadcast live on private televisions including Bangladesh Television. In addition, the trial proceedings were shown on big screens at every corner of the capital.
Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan fled and are currently taking refuge in India. The only accused arrested in the case, Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, has become a royal witness. He has given a statement as an approver (known as a royal witness) and admitted the charges brought against him.
Meanwhile, the law enforcement agencies are on alert in the wake of Hasina’s genocide verdict. Additional members of the law enforcement agencies have been deployed at important points in various parts of the country, including the capital. Members of the intelligence agencies are also on duty in plain clothes.
In addition, the army is on duty in the field. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has been deployed in Dhaka, Gopalganj, Madaripur and Faridpur. The Supreme Court has sent a letter to the army headquarters to deploy troops in the tribunal area. Security has been beefed up to prevent vandalism, including setting fire to vehicles, exploding cocktails in the name of the banned Awami League’s alleged lockdown and shutdown. Leaders and activists of pro-July parties including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP are on alert ahead of the verdict.
The prosecution has filed an 8,747-page complaint against three people, including Hasina, for crimes against humanity. Of this, 2,018 pages are the reference, 4,05 pages are the seized and documentary evidence, and 2,724 pages are the list of martyrs.
The main allegation in the investigation report into the crimes against humanity case is that Hasina directly ordered widespread and systematic repression against protesters during the July-August 2024 movement, which amounted to genocide, murder and horrific torture. The main allegations made in the report are direct orders, meaning that Sheikh Hasina directly ordered all the state forces, her party Awami League and allied organizations, especially the armed cadres of the Chhatra League-Juba League and Swechchhasebak League, to take action against the protesters. Genocide and torture As a result of Hasina’s orders, more than 1,500 people were killed and more than 25,000 were injured, mutilated and subjected to various forms of torture.
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