Hasina Verdict on 17 Nov in Crimes Against Humanity Case

Photo : Collected

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) on Thursday fixed 17 November for delivering its verdict in a case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two others over alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July–August uprising last year.

The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, along with Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Justice Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury, announced the date for the judgment.

The two other accused are former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. Of them, Mamun, who was initially a prosecution witness, later became an accused and is now in custody.

Initially, Sheikh Hasina was the sole accused in the case. On 16 March this year, the prosecution appealed to include former IGP Mamun as a co-accused, which the tribunal subsequently approved.

Following the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024, the tribunal was reconstituted, and the case against Sheikh Hasina became its first trial.

The tribunal held its first hearing on 17 October last year, when it also issued an arrest warrant against Hasina. After several extensions, the investigation agency submitted its final probe report to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office on 12 May this year.

The prosecution formally filed charges against Sheikh Hasina and the two others on 1 June, alleging that Hasina made inciting statements at a press conference in Gonobhaban on 14 July last year, and later ordered the use of helicopters, drones, and lethal weapons against protesters.

Other allegations include the shooting of student Abu Saeed at Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, the killing of six protesters in Chankharpul, Dhaka, and the burning of six individuals in Ashulia.

The tribunal framed charges on 10 July, after which the trial formally began. Hasina and Asaduzzaman remain at large, while Mamun, the only detained accused, confessed his involvement in crimes against humanity and applied to testify as a state witness.

The arguments in the case began on 12 October and concluded on 23 October.

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam sought the death penalty for Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan, while state-appointed defence lawyer Md Amir Hossain argued for their acquittal. Mamun’s counsel Zayed Bin Amjad also pleaded for his client’s acquittal.

The upcoming verdict on 17 November will mark the first judgment of the reconstituted International Crimes Tribunal since its revival in 2024.