‘The historic verdict on Sheikh Hasina’s death sentence is a unique precedent in establishing justice’

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has sentenced ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death in a case of crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising. At the same time, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, accused of the same charge, was sentenced to death and former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun was sentenced to five years in prison.

A three-member judicial panel led by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder, Chairman of the International Crimes Tribunal-1, gave the verdict on Monday (November 17) afternoon. The other two members of the tribunal are Justice Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Justice Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.

A message signed by Shahadat Hossain, the office secretary of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, said that the long-standing desire of the families of the martyrs and the injured of July's uprising and the new Bangladesh after the July uprising has been fulfilled, which is a unique example in the history of Bangladesh in establishing justice.

The message said that during the bloody uprising of the students and the masses on July 24, the brutal massacre carried out by the fascist forces and the banned terrorist organization Awami League and their affiliate organizations Chhatra League-Juba League, along with the state forces, was the mastermind of this murderer Hasina. Therefore, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement believes that this historic verdict is a reflection of the long-awaited justice of the students and the masses. Of course, it must also be remembered that this verdict is not only the establishment of justice; but also a precedent for the future. In other words, it is an advance message that no one can become a fascist in the post-July Bangladesh of the future.

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement also believes that not only the trial of the murderer Hasina, but also those who have cooperated in various ways to sustain fascism during the past fascist era and those who were involved in cases of disappearances, murders, attacks and suppression of opposition in the last decade and a half should be brought to justice. At the same time, the role, responsibility and crimes of the Awami League as a party should also be brought under the judicial process.

In addition, it should be remembered that full justice for the genocide and crimes against humanity of the fascist Hasina can only be ensured by quickly implementing this verdict. Therefore, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement is calling on the interim government to quickly bring back the fugitive and genocide Hasina and other accused to the country through the cooperation of Interpol and existing international legal processes and finally implement the announced verdict.