No scope for Hasina now to appeal against death sentence: Chief prosecutor
He said the tribunal had sentenced Azad to death, but he had remained outside the country for a long time and did not file an appeal.
Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina will have no scope to appeal against her death sentence as she failed to file an appeal within 30 days of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) verdict, said ICT Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam today (7 September).
He said there is no scope to appeal against an ICT verdict if an appeal is not filed within the stipulated 30-day period.
"The law applies equally to everyone, whether it is fugitive Maulana Abul Kalam Azad or former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been sentenced to death," Aminul told reporters at his office.
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"Once the deadline expires, there is no further opportunity to file an appeal," Aminul added.
He said the tribunal had sentenced Azad to death, but he had remained outside the country for a long time and did not file an appeal.
He also said the Appellate Division recently heard the matter relating to Azad's case, and it did not admit his appeal.
Aminul said he believed Azad's lawyers had also understood the legal position and therefore had not taken further steps in the matter.
However, the government has the inherent power to suspend any sentence, although this is separate from the statutory right to appeal, the chief prosecutor said.
Legal process underway to confiscate Hasina's assets
Aminul also said work was under way to finalise the legal procedure for confiscating the assets of Sheikh Hasina and others sentenced by the ICT in the July mass uprising crimes against humanity case.
The tribunal's verdict had ordered the death penalty for Hasina and several others, along with confiscation of their assets.
The chief prosecutor said the law and relevant rules contain provisions for confiscation of property as well as compensation for victims' families. However, the specific procedure for implementing the confiscation order is governed by general law and needs to be clearly defined.
"We are working on what the process will be, which agency will confiscate the property and how it will be handed over to the victim families," he said.
Aminul said he had raised the issue before the tribunal judges during the hearing and requested clear directions on how the order should be implemented.
Once the procedure is finalised, the assets can be confiscated, he said.
'Detention for over 24hrs enforced disappearance'
Under the newly enacted Prevention and Remedies of Enforced Disappearance Act, 2026, detention for more than 24 hours without access to legal assistance could be considered an enforced disappearance, Aminul said.
The law will be a milestone for Bangladesh's justice system, he added.
He said the new law creates a clear avenue for victims of enforced disappearance and their families to seek justice, while also opening the possibility of prosecuting widespread or systematic enforced disappearances as crimes against humanity before the ICT.
The new law was passed by parliament yesterday (6 September).
If enforced disappearance occurs on a widespread or systematic scale, it can constitute a crime against humanity and be tried before the International Crimes Tribunal, he said.
