No legal bar on airing Hasina's remarks unless they are hateful: ICT chief prosecutor

There is no legal restriction on broadcasting or publishing statements by ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina unless they are hateful or undermine the dignity of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam said today (4 August).

"Statements that create an image crisis for the tribunal or are hateful cannot be published or broadcast. But there is no legal bar on airing any other remarks," he told journalists at his office at the tribunal.

Referring to reports that Hasina may deliver a speech on 5 August, the chief prosecutor said the prosecution would wait and see whether such a speech actually takes place.

"Let's wait until tomorrow between 6pm and 7pm and see whether she actually delivers any speech or whether it is all empty noise," he said, adding, "It's all false".

He also noted that there was uncertainty over whether Hasina would actually make any public remarks.

"At one time she says one thing, then another. We are hearing that she may speak on 5 August. But whether she actually speaks or whether a pre-recorded message is aired is not something we can comment on. We also have no evidence regarding the authenticity of statements circulating on social media," the chief prosecutor added.

Aminul further said Hasina's public remarks have no bearing on the tribunal's judicial proceedings. "Whether Hasina speaks or not has no connection with the judicial activities of the ICT. Our responsibility is to ensure the implementation of the tribunal's verdict."

He also said Hasina has already been convicted and that enforcing the verdict now rests with the government.

"It is now the government's responsibility to determine how the verdict will be implemented. If she can be brought back to the country, the process of implementing the judgment will move forward. If not, implementation may be delayed. Where she is, how she lives or what she says is not within our jurisdiction," Aminul said.