United News of Bangladesh

BNP on Monday night (November 17) said it believes justice has been served through the International Crimes Tribunal’s verdict sentencing deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity committed during the July-August Uprising. “After a long judicial process, following international standards, the International Crimes Tribunal has delivered its verdict against Awami fascist Sheikh Hasina and her two accomplices. This verdict has ensured justice,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. He shared the party’s formal reaction at a press briefing after a meeting of the BNP Standing Committee at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office. Fakhrul said people at home and abroad had long called for accountability for the crimes committed under the previous regime. “The people of Bangladesh and the international community have been waiting for justice for the brutal acts of murder, torture and genocide carried out by the fallen dictator and her associates,” he said. Fakhrul said the tribunal handed down the maximum punishment under the law to Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, while former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who cooperated with the court, received a reduced sentence of five years’ imprisonment. Read more: UN rights body regrets Hasina’s death sentence, calls verdict important for victims He said the BNP is firmly committed to the rule of law and urged the country’s people to stay alert in this regard. Fakhrul said their party also demanded fair trials for all other accused persons in other cases. “With this verdict, we believe the souls of those who were victims of enforced disappearances, killings and extrajudicial executions over the past sixteen years — and the thousands who were killed during the 2024 student uprising — will find some peace. The anger of their families will ease to some extent,” the BNP leader said. The BNP Standing Committee meeting, chaired virtually by Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman from London, began at 8:30pm and continued for two hours. BNP Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Salahuddin Ahmed were also present at the press briefing. Earlier in the day, the tribunal convicted Sheikh Hasina and two others in a case related to crimes against humanity committed during last year’s July–August uprising, in which more than 1,000 people were killed. The ICT-1 sentenced Sheikh Hasina to death, while former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Kamal also received the death penalty. Former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who gave testimony as a state witness, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. The court further ordered the confiscation of the properties of Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Kamal in favour of the state. Read more: Awami League using looted money for acts of sabotage: Rizvi

The International Crimes Tribunal-1  (ICT-1) is reading out its verdict in a high-profile case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two others for crimes against humanity committed during last year’s July-August uprising. The three member tribunal led by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder started to read out the verdict at 12:30 pm. Law enforcement agencies have taken all necessary preparations to tackle any possible chaos centering the verdict. Two other accused in the case are former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. Mamun testified as a state witness. Dhaka under security blanket as ICT set to deliver verdict in Hasina’s case today Security has been tightened across the country, particularly in and around the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Dhaka, ahead of verdict. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has been deployed in Dhaka, Gopalganj, Faridpur and Madaripur districts to ensure overall security and maintain law and order. The prosecution has claimed all five charges against Hasina and other accused have been proven and sought the maximum punishment. Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Sunday said whatever verdict the tribunal delivers in case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (November 17) will be executed and people will accept it. Bangladesh Television (BTV) is broadcasting the verdict live. Read more: Relatives of July uprising martyrs gather at tribunal ahead of Hasina verdict

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) on Thursday set November 17 to deliver its first verdict in a case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two others over alleged crimes against humanity during last year’s July-August uprising. A three-member tribunal, headed by Chairman Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder and Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Justice Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury, fixed the date. Two other accused in the case are former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. Mamun testified as a state witness. 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 first case in the reconstituted tribunal concerned alleged crimes against humanity during the July uprising, with Sheikh Hasina as the accused. The tribunal conducted its first hearing on October 17 last year, issuing an arrest warrant against Hasina that day. Tensions rise as ICT going to set verdict date in Hasina case 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 charges include: ·         Inciting violence in a press conference at Ganabhaban on 14 July 2024; ·         Ordering the elimination of protestors using helicopters, drones, and lethal weapons; ·         The shooting death of student Abu Saeed at Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur; ·         The killing of six protestors at Chankharpul, Dhaka; ·         The burning of six individuals in Ashulia. The tribunal formally framed these charges on July 10. Hasina and Asaduzzaman remain at large, while former IGP Mamun is the only arrested accused. On the day the charges were framed, Mamun admitted his involvement in crimes against humanity during the uprising and applied to testify as a state witness. Arguments in the case began on October 12 and concluded on October 23. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam has sought the death penalty for Hasina and Asaduzzaman over the alleged crimes. ICT orders trial against Inu over six Kushtia killings On the other hand, state-appointed lawyer Md. Amir Hossain has sought acquittal for both Hasina and Khan, while Mamun’s lawyer Zayed Bin Amjad has also sought his acquittal.