The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has set November 13 for announcing the date of delivering verdict in a case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and another accused over crimes against humanity committed during last year’s July-August movement.
After five days of arguments by the prosecution and three days by the defence, the three-member tribunal led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder set the date on Thursday.
The other two members of the bench are Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmood and Justice Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.
In this much-discussed case, the prosecution sought the maximum punishment for Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on five charges of crimes against humanity while state-appointed defence lawyers pleaded for their acquittal.
The defence counsel for state witness and former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun also sought his acquittal.
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam responded to several points raised by the defence while Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman, as the state’s chief legal officer, urged the tribunal to ensure justice through the highest punishment for the accused.
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Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam, Prosecutors Mizanul Islam and Gazi SH Tamim led the arguments for the prosecution, supported by prosecutors BM Sultan Mahmud, Shaikh Mahdi, and Abdus Sattar Palowan, among others.
On the defence side, state-appointed lawyer Md Amir Hossain represented fugitive accused Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal while lawyer Zayed Bin Amzad appeared for state witness Abdullah Al-Mamun.
Relatives of victims, including the father of martyr Abu Sayed testified in the case, along with key witnesses including Nahid Islam, Convener of National Citizen Party (NCP) and Amar Desh editor Dr Mahmudur Rahman.
In total, 54 witnesses testified in the trial.
According to the charges, the then Awami League government, along with its party leaders, loyal administrators, and members of law enforcement agencies, committed crimes against humanity to suppress the student-led July–August uprising.
Two international crimes tribunals are currently trying these allegations.
On July 10, the tribunal formally indicted Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former IGP Abdullah Al-Mamun, beginning the trial.
Former IGP Al-Mamun turned state witness and gave testimony revealing details of the incidents.
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The prosecution submitted an 8,747-page formal charge, including 2,018 pages of references, 4,005 pages of seizure lists and documentary evidence, and 2,724 pages containing the list of victims.
A total of 81 witnesses were named in the charge sheet.
The tribunal’s investigation agency submitted its report to the prosecution on May 12.
Besides this case, Sheikh Hasina faces two other cases before the International Crimes Tribunal—one over enforced disappearances and killings during the Awami League’s 15 and a half years in power and another over the 2013 killings at Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Dhaka’s Shapla Chattar.