The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 on Wednesday (November 26) released the full text of its 453-page judgment that convicted and sentenced ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death for crimes against humanity committed during last year’s July Mass Uprising.
International Crimes Tribunal Prosecutor Mizanul Islam confirmed that the prosecution has received a full copy of the verdict. “The registrar will decide when the copy of the verdict will be sent to the concerned department,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zayed Bin Amjad, lawyer for former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun—who was sentenced to five years in prison in the same case—said he has also received a copy of the full verdict.
State-appointed defence lawyer Md Amir Hossain, who represented Sheikh Hasina and Kamal, said he has not received any copy due to the absence of legal provision allowing it. As the two accused remain absconding, they will not have the opportunity to appeal, he added.
BNP hails Hasina’s death sentence verdict, says justice served
On November 17, the tribunal delivered the judgment against the three, finding them guilty on the charges brought forward.
The three-member tribunal, headed by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, began announcing the verdict at around 12:30pm, unveiling the 453-page document.
Five charges had initially been brought against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina for allegedly ordering crimes against humanity during the July–August mass student uprising.
The tribunal evaluated these allegations and proceeded with the trial. The charges were later reorganized into two broad charges, under which the accused were found guilty of a total of six offences.
Prosecutor Gazi M. H. Tamim said the tribunal’s verdict considered two consolidated charges, within which six distinct crimes were established.
The court found the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal guilty of three counts under charge number one.
Count-1: Inciting crimes through provocative speech at a press briefing on July 14, 2024, where she labelled protesters as children of Razakars.
Count-2: On the night of July 14, 2024, she had a telephonic conversation with the then vice-chancellor of the University of Dhaka, Dr ASM Maksud Kamal, where she again termed the protesters as Razakars and threatened to hang them. The tribunal found the accused had ordered and incited the violence that followed and did not obstruct their subordinates from committing the crimes.
Count-3: Following that, police shot and killed Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) student Abu Sayeed.
Read more: Dhaka writes to Delhi afresh seeking Hasina’s extradition
The tribunal sentenced both Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to imprisonment unto death for three counts of charge number one.
It also found them guilty of three counts of charge number two.
Count-1: Ordering the deployment of helicopters, drones and lethal weapons against protesters, which was proved in the telephonic conversation of Sheikh Hasina with Hasanul Haque Inu.
Count-2: Following the order, six unarmed students were gunned down in the capital's Chankharpul area on August 5, 2024.
Count-3: Six protesters were gunned down in Ashulia on August 5, 2024, and their bodies were burned to hide evidence.
The tribunal sentenced Sheikh Hasina and Kamal to death for these offences.
The tribunal also ordered the authorities concerned to confiscate the property of Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan.
The court also asked the authorities concerned to take steps to provide adequate compensation from this property to the martyrs and injured victims of July-August movement in proportion to the extent of their losses.
Besides, former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who testified as a state witness in the case, was sentenced to five years in prison in both charges.
Read more: Delhi examining request for Hasina’s extradition; Dhaka expects response