The International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) on Thursday set November 17 to deliver its first verdict in a case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two others over alleged crimes against humanity during last year’s July-August uprising.
A three-member tribunal, headed by Chairman Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder and Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Justice Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury, fixed the date.
Two other accused in the case are former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. Mamun testified as a state witness.
Initially, Sheikh Hasina was the sole accused in the case. On March 16 this year, the prosecution appealed to include former IGP Mamun as an accused alongside Sheikh Hasina and the tribunal approved it.
After the Awami League government was toppled on August 5, 2024, the ICT was reconstituted.
The first case in the reconstituted tribunal concerned alleged crimes against humanity during the July uprising, with Sheikh Hasina as the accused.
The tribunal conducted its first hearing on October 17 last year, issuing an arrest warrant against Hasina that day.
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After extending the deadline several times, the tribunal’s investigation agency submitted its final probe report to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office on May 12 this year.
On June 1, the prosecution formally filed charges against Sheikh Hasina and the two accused.
The charges include:
· Inciting violence in a press conference at Ganabhaban on 14 July 2024;
· Ordering the elimination of protestors using helicopters, drones, and lethal weapons;
· The shooting death of student Abu Saeed at Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur;
· The killing of six protestors at Chankharpul, Dhaka;
· The burning of six individuals in Ashulia.
The tribunal formally framed these charges on July 10.
Hasina and Asaduzzaman remain at large, while former IGP Mamun is the only arrested accused. On the day the charges were framed, Mamun admitted his involvement in crimes against humanity during the uprising and applied to testify as a state witness.
Arguments in the case began on October 12 and concluded on October 23.
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam has sought the death penalty for Hasina and Asaduzzaman over the alleged crimes.
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On the other hand, state-appointed lawyer Md. Amir Hossain has sought acquittal for both Hasina and Khan, while Mamun’s lawyer Zayed Bin Amjad has also sought his acquittal.