United News of Bangladesh

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Monday sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death in a case filed over crimes against humanity committed during last year’s July-August mass uprising. The three-member tribunal, headed by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder began delivering the verdict around 12:30pm unveiling a 453-page judgment. The tribunal found all three accused guilty of the charges brought against them. Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to death on two counts of crimes against humanity. Asaduzzaman Khan was awarded the death penalty on one charge. Both of them tried in absentia. Hasina gets death penalty, jail unto death for crimes against humanity   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.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.About the sentence handed down against Sheikh Hasina under the first charge, the tribunal said the former prime minister was responsible for instigating the crimes, ordering attacks on protesters and failing to act to prevent the offences or take punitive measures against those involved.She was found guilty of two offences under charge one and sentenced to imprisonment unto death.The tribunal said Sheikh Hasina was held responsible for two crimes under 2nd charge.One of the two offences is ordering use of helicopters and lethal weapons to suppress the July mass movement.By issuing this order, she committed offences under Sections 3(1)(ka), 3(2)(chha)(ja) and 4(1)(2)(3) of the International Crimes Tribunal Act, 1973, it said.The second offence concerns the killing of six people in Dhaka’s Chankharpul area on August 5 last year and the killing and burning of six others in Ashulia the same day as per her instructions.The tribunal said the court’s decision was that the only punishment for these crimes is the death penalty.The tribunal said two other convicts- Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun -- are equally responsible for the offences.Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal was sentenced to death for the offences, it said.Although Abdullah Al Mamun also deserves the maximum punishment, as he became a state witness and gave full and truthful testimony regarding the offences, the court showed leniency and sentenced him to five years in prison.He assisted the judicial process in reaching an accurate decision, said the tribunal.The tribunal also ordered that a copy of the verdict be sent to the Dhaka District Magistrate.As Sheikh Hasina and former minister Asaduzzaman Khan fled the country amid the massive movement on August 5 last year only former IGP Mamun was present at the dock during the delivery of the judgment. Bangladesh Television (BTV) telecast the verdict live and it was also shown via giant screen at 10 spots of the capital.Initially, Sheikh Hasina was the sole accused in the case.On March 16 this year, the prosecution appealed to include former IGP Mamun as an accused alongside Sheikh Hasina and the tribunal approved it.After the Awami League government was toppled on August 5, 2024, the ICT was reconstituted.The tribunal conducted its first hearing on October 17 last year, issuing an arrest warrant against Hasina that day.After extending the deadline several times, the tribunal’s investigation agency submitted its final probe report to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office on May 12 this year.On June 1, the prosecution formally filed charges against Sheikh Hasina and the two accused.The 5 charges are:• Inciting violence in a press conference at Ganabhaban on 14 July 2024;• Ordering the elimination of protestors using helicopters, drones, and lethal weapons;• Student Abu Sayed’s killing in shooting at Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur;• The killing of six protestors at Chankharpul, Dhaka;• The burning of six people in Ashulia.The tribunal formally framed these charges on July 10.The day the charges were framed, Mamun confessed to the court his involvement in crimes against humanity during the uprising and became a state witness.Arguments in the case began on October 12 and concluded on October 23.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 during the trial. Ex-IGP Mamun gets 5-year jail term for crimes against humanity  

- Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Tuesday said Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus raised the extradition issue of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina but stressed that nothing was finalised. When pressed further, the Adviser refrained from going into additional details on the issue at this moment. Briefing reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Adviser Hossain said further improvement of the relations depends on both sides. "We need to progress the relations together." Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, after the bilateral meeting between Chief Adviser Prof Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, told reporters in Bangkok that Prime Minister Modi urged that rhetoric that vitiates the environment is best avoided. Responding to a question regarding the matter, Adviser Hossain said they both agreed on this as the same things are happening from the Indian side too. Asked about the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project with China, he said Bangladesh remains open to both India and China, and Bangladesh will look into where Bangladesh’s interest is protected. “The government has taken a liberal stance. We are open to discussing the project with both sides and will evaluate where Bangladesh’s interests are best served,” the Adviser said. As Bangladesh welcomed Chinese companies’ involvement in the Teesta river management project, he further said progress takes time. “We are not expecting an overnight solution that will resolve the Teesta issue immediately,” he said, adding that cooperation is possible with either country (India or China). There are no obstacles.” Indian Prime Minister Modi on Friday reiterated India's support for a "democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive" Bangladesh during his first- ever bilateral meeting with Prof Yunus on the sidelines of the 6th Bimstec Summit. Dr Yunus enquires about Hasina’s extradition request status, seeks measures to restrain her Responding to a question, Adviser Hossain said the government is committed to handover the responsibility to an elected political leadership after holding the election in a free and fair manner. “Bangladesh’s friends always raise the issue of elections,” he said, adding that whenever the subject comes up in discussions, they express concern; even countries without democratic traditions often enquire about Bangladesh’s elections. Modi expressed his conviction that all issues of mutual interest between the two countries would continue to be addressed and resolved bilaterally through constructive discussions, in the interest of their longstanding and mutually beneficial bilateral relationship. The Indian Prime Minister underlined that India believes in a people-centric approach in a relationship and highlighted the cooperation between the two countries for a long period of time that delivered tangible benefits to people on both sides. He underlined India’s desire to forge a positive and constructive relationship with Bangladesh based on pragmatism. On the issue of Indian visas, the Adviser said whether India issues visas or not is entirely their sovereign decision. “We have also temporarily suspended visa issuance to India in the past,” he said. He said visa restrictions do not create a vacuum and when any country suspends visas, people tend to explore alternatives elsewhere. Responding to a question on Rohingya repatriation, Hossain said Myanmar agreed that 180,000 are fit to return, but it does not mean that the Rohingya people will return immediately given the situation on the ground in Rakhine state. Asked about the China visit, Adviser Hossain said engagement at the highest level had yielded some progress. “When top-level communication is in place, it facilitates the advancement of relationships at other levels.” Dhaka to remind Delhi about its request for Hasina’s extradition: Ministry He said several documents were signed during the visit and the Chief Adviser and Chinese President discussed mutual interests. “I believe the visit has had a reasonably positive impact,” he added. Commenting on protests by Bangladeshi nationals over delays in obtaining Italian visas, Hossain said Dhaka is in continuous dialogue with Rome. “There are questions concerning the authenticity of the documents submitted with visa applications. A large number of fake documents have been detected,” he said. Italian authorities are currently verifying the genuineness of submitted documents, and as a result, even applicants with legitimate paperwork are experiencing delays and complications, the adviser added.

The interim government on Sunday reiterated its commitment to bring back former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, now facing over 100 cases with a wide range of charges, to face the trial at home, stressing that nobody in the world wants to give space to any “killer”. “It’s nation’s desire (to get her back). We are very hopeful,” Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters during a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy. When asked about such a possibility during their tenure, he said political parties are their stakeholders and hoped that the next elected government, whoever it is, will look into it as it is a generational issue. “We will try our best. She must face the trial. I think pressure will build on. Our pressure will relentlessly be there,” he said, adding that such pressure will be mobilised worldwide. Alam said they did not hear anything from the Indian side yet on her extradition request but the government’s efforts are there to bring her back. “It remains our top priority. We will not step back from this.” India maintains silence on Hasina's extradition request as Bangladesh awaits response India has refrained from commenting further on deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's extradition request, though Bangladesh is awaiting a reply from India. "You know, a week back, I had confirmed that we have received a communication from the Bangladesh authorities in respect of former PM Sheikh Hasina. Further than that, I have nothing to add at this point in time," said Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson at the Ministry of External Affairs, on January 3. On January 1, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain made it clear that maintaining good relationships with three big countries - India, China and the United States- is among the priorities in 2025. He stressed that Dhaka’s ties with Delhi will advance beyond a single issue. There are questions around on how the Bangladesh-India relations will navigate this year if Dhaka's request for returning former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina remains unaddressed. Michael Chakma files complaint against Sheikh Hasina, 8 others Adviser Hossain, however, addressed such a question saying this is one of the issues and the two countries have many bilateral issues. "I think both will continue simultaneously. We have many issues of mutual interest. We will advance with all these issues side by side," said the adviser.