Sheikh Hasina’s trial: Mirza Fakhrul demands justice and transparency

The verdict in the case against Sheikh Hasina and three others for crimes against humanity committed during the July Uprising will be announced on Monday (November 17). The verdict will be announced at the International Crimes Tribunal.

Before the verdict was announced, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir demanded complete justice and transparency. He posted a message on his Facebook page on Sunday (November 16).

In the post, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, "Tomorrow (November 17), the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh is going to announce the verdict in the case against Sheikh Hasina, where five charges of crimes against humanity have been brought in connection with the deadly violence and repression that took place in Dhaka last year. We demand complete justice and transparency."

Justice Md. The three-member International Crimes Tribunal-1, headed by Golam Mortuza Majumder, set the verdict in the case for Thursday (November 13). The other two members of the tribunal are Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Judge Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.

Bangladesh Television will broadcast the verdict in Sheikh Hasina's crimes against humanity case live. At the same time, the Ministry of Culture will broadcast the verdict announcement live on big screens in several places in Dhaka city. It will also be broadcast on the International Crimes Tribunal's Facebook page.

Along with Sheikh Hasina, the other two accused in the case are former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. Out of these, former IGP Mamun has given his statement as an 'approver' (known as a royal witness).

Meanwhile, after the tribunal's verdict is announced, an application will be made for an arrest warrant against Sheikh Hasina through Interpol, said International Crimes Tribunal Prosecutor Gazi M.H. Tamim.

In a briefing on Sunday, he said, "They have also requested that the properties of Sheikh Hasina and the accused be confiscated and given as compensation to the families of the martyrs and the injured. We have prayed for the maximum punishment for her (Sheikh Hasina) in the tribunal. Not only that, but we have also prayed for the confiscation of the properties of these accused and their transfer to the victims or martyrs and injured families in the case."

He also said, "Whatever order the tribunal gives in the interest of justice, the prosecution will accept it." A three-member judicial panel led by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumdar of International Crimes Tribunal-1 will announce the verdict on Monday.

The International Crimes Tribunal was reconstituted after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024. The first case in the reconstituted tribunal was against Sheikh Hasina for crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising. The first trial of the reconstituted tribunal was held on October 17 last year. The tribunal issued an arrest warrant against Sheikh Hasina in this case on the same day.

Initially, Sheikh Hasina was the only accused in this case. On March 16 this year, the prosecution (state party) applied to make Sheikh Hasina and former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun an accused in this case along with Sheikh Hasina. The tribunal granted it.

After multiple extensions of time, the tribunal's investigation agency submitted the investigation report of this case to the Chief Prosecutor's Office on May 12 this year. On June 1, the prosecution filed a formal charge against these three accused, including Sheikh Hasina, with the tribunal. A total of five charges were brought against the three accused in the formal charges.

The charges are - Sheikh Hasina's provocative speech at a press conference held at Ganabhaban on July 14 last year, ordering the use of helicopters, drones and lethal weapons to eliminate the protesting students and public, shooting and killing Begum Rokeya University student Abu Sayeed in Rangpur, shooting and killing six protesters in the capital's Chankharpul area and burning six people in Ashulia. The tribunal framed formal charges against the three on July 10 for these five charges.

Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan are absconding. Former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun is the only arrestee in the case.

On the day of framing of the formal charges (July 10), former IGP Mamun admitted to being involved in crimes against humanity during the mass uprising. He applied to be an 'approver' (royal witness). Arguments in the case began on October 12. The arguments ended on October 23. Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam sought the death penalty for Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan for crimes against humanity during the July uprising.

State-appointed lawyer Md. Amir Hossain, representing Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman, pleaded for the acquittal of Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman from the case. His lawyer Zayed Bin Amjad, the former IGP Mamun, who was the witness, also pleaded for the acquittal.

After presenting the arguments that day (October 23), the tribunal said that the verdict in this case would be announced on November 13. Accordingly, the tribunal set the date for the verdict (November 17).