Gallows for Hasina, Kamal
The ousted prime minister and her home minister have been found guilty on multiple counts in the first July mass killings case to reach a verdict.
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has sentenced ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death in a case over crimes against humanity committed during last year's July Uprising.
A three-member panel of ICT-1, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mazumder, read out the verdict in the much-anticipated case over crimes against humanity against three people, including the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in the face of a mass uprising in July-August 2024 today (17 November).
Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal were tried in absentia, while another accused in the case, former inspector general of police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun was present at the tribunal as a state witness in the case.
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Abdullah Al-Mamun was pardoned from a death sentence and sentenced to five years' imprisonment owing to his becoming a state witness. It appeared to the tribunal that he made a full disclosure of the circumstances within his knowledge relative to the crime, said the tribunal in the verdict observations.
Charges
For charge-1, Hasina was found guilty on three counts, which include incitement, ordering to kill and inaction to prevent the atrocities and failing to take action against the perpetrators.
For this charge, she was sentenced to imprisonment till natural death.
For charge-2, she was found guilty on three counts for crimes against humanity in Ashulia and Chankharpul for passing the order to deploy drones, helicopters and using lethal weapons on protestors.
For this charge, she was sentenced to death.
She was sentenced to death in another charge as well.
Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal is liable for committing crimes against humanity for the killing of six people in Chankharpul in Dhaka. He is found guilty of abatement and failure to prevent the atrocities, said the tribunal.
He has been found guilty of four counts of crimes against humanity. He was sentenced to death for this crime, according to the verdict.
The tribunal has also directed the government to provide proper compensation to those killed and injured in the July–August incidents.
Reaction
While the prosecution has expressed satisfaction with the verdict, the state-appointed defence lawyer has claimed that justice was not served.
International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam said the ruling demonstrates Bangladesh's capability to conduct trials in line with international legal standards. Hailing the verdict, he called it a reaffirmation of the nation's commitment to justice.
Deputy Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman said, "Through this verdict, the state has received justice. We believe this is a landmark step in fulfilling our responsibilities toward the martyrs, the people, the Constitution, and the state. The state will do everything necessary under the law."
Political parties like BNP, National Citizen Party (NCP) and Jamaat-e-Islami have welcomed the verdict.
Verdict announcement
The 453-page verdict consists of six parts, said one of the judges of the panel, while stating the preamble of the verdict.
While reading out the verdict, the judge also said, there is no scope under the law to raise a question over the jurisdiction of the ICT.
He said, during the protests demanding systematic changes to the quota system in public jobs existing at that time, Sheikh Hasina made the statement, "Will Rajakars' grandchildren get jobs rather than the grandchildren of the Freedom Fighters?"
She also incited violence by making statements like, "Chhatra League is enough to control the [protesting] students."
By inciting violence through such statements and taking no punitive measures against the perpetrators who attacked protesting students, Sheikh Hasina committed crimes against humanity, the judge said.
She also ordered the use of helicopters and lethal weapons on protestors, added the judge.
During a phone conversation with the then Dhaka South mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Hasina said law-enforcement had already been ordered to use lethal weapons and arrest those who took part in the protests during the July Uprising.
"Police have been ordered to shoot protestors anywhere they can," she said.
Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun committed crimes against humanity by ordering, abatement of killing protestors during peaceful protests and inaction to punish the perpetrators, said the judge.
The premises surrounding the tribunal have been placed under a stringent, multi-layered security cordon since last night.
The heightened security measures were implemented ahead of the scheduled verdict, ensuring that security concerns are addressed and any potential unrest can be prevented.
This is the first case filed over killings and other crimes against humanity committed during the July Uprising. Hasina and Kamal, who fled to India in the face of the mass uprising in August last year, remain absconding.
Meanwhile, Mamun has given a deposition as a state witness in the case.
The judgement is being broadcast live on Bangladesh Television and shown on large screens at several locations in Dhaka under cultural ministry initiative.
The tribunal's Facebook page is also streaming the proceedings.
On 13 November, the ICT set today (17 November) as the date for announcing the verdict.
Over 28 working days, the tribunal heard testimonies from 54 out of the 81 listed witnesses. Mamun has already given his statement before the tribunal, confessing his involvement and testifying as a state witness.
The prosecution presented its closing arguments over five consecutive days, concluding on 16 October. On that day, Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam sought the death penalty for Hasina and Kamal while leaving the court to decide on the sentence for approver Abdullah Al-Mamun.
In this case, the prosecution brought five charges of crimes against humanity against the three accused on 12 May.
The formal charge document spans a total of 8,747 pages, including 2,018 pages of references, 4,005 pages of seizure lists and documentary evidence, and 2,724 pages detailing the list of martyrs of July Uprising.
Throughout the arguments, the prosecution revisited key political and human rights developments during Hasina's tenure from 2009 to 5 August 2024 – including accounts of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and political violence.
Following that, state-appointed defence counsel Md Amir Hossain presented arguments for Hasina and Kamal over three consecutive days, concluding on 22 October. On the same day, Zayed Bin Amjad, counsel for approver Abdullah Al-Mamun, also submitted his final statement.
On 12 May, the prosecution brought five charges against the three, including incitement, provocation, and command responsibility for the killing of around 1,400 people and the maiming of another 25,000 during the July-August uprising.
On 17 June, the tribunal published notices in two national dailies, asking Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to surrender by 24 June.
The notices were issued after the court took cognisance of the formal charges submitted on 1 June.
Charges were framed against the three on 10 July.
