Court sentences Hasina to death in July massacre

BanglaPress Desk: The court has sentenced ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death in a case of crimes against humanity for the genocide committed during the July uprising. She has been sentenced to death for killing 6 people in Chankharpur.

On Monday (November 17), a three-member judicial panel led by International Crimes Tribunal-1 Chairman Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder announced the verdict at 2:50 pm. The remaining members of the tribunal are Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Justice Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.

In addition to lawyers, family members of some of those killed in July and August were present in the crowded courtroom when the verdict was announced.

In the verdict, the court said that three charges against Sheikh Hasina were proven. One was sentenced to life imprisonment and the other two were sentenced to death.

Incidentally, during the hearing of the case, the state had repeatedly alleged that Sheikh Hasina was the mastermind, i.e. the planner, order-giver and superior commander or highest order-giver, of all crimes against humanity committed during the July Uprising.

Apart from Sheikh Hasina, the other two accused in this case are former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun.

Former IGP Mamun is the only arrested accused in this case. He has given his statement as an approver or royal witness in this case.

Asaduzzaman Kamal is also a fugitive like Hasina.

After the verdict was announced, the families of those killed and injured in the July incident and the July fighters expressed joy. They raised slogans in the court. Later, the Attorney General asked everyone to calm down.

This tribunal was formed during the ousted Awami League government to try crimes against humanity in 1971. The tribunal was reconstituted after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024.

The first case (miscase or miscellaneous case) against Sheikh Hasina for crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising was filed by the reconstituted tribunal.

The first trial of the reconstituted tribunal was held on October 17 last year. On that day, the tribunal issued an arrest warrant against Sheikh Hasina in the case.

At that time, Sheikh Hasina was the only accused in the case.

Later, in March this year, the tribunal granted the prosecution's application to make the former Home Minister and the former IGP accused in the case.

Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam told the tribunal that the crimes against humanity committed against the accused were from January 6, 2009 to August 5, 2024.

On July 10, the International Crimes Tribunal ordered the trial to begin with the formal indictment of five charges against the three accused.

The five charges brought against Sheikh Hasina and the three accused in the case are:

Making provocative statements

Giving orders to 'kill and eliminate' protesters using helicopters, drones and lethal weapons

Allegations of incitement, incitement, conspiracy, aiding and abetting in the murder of Abu Said, a student of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur

On August 5 last year, six people were shot dead by law enforcement in the Chankharpul area of ​​the capital

On charges of burning six people, including one alive, to death in Ashulia

A total of 54 people, including participants in the movement, injured people and eyewitnesses, and doctors who treated the injured, have testified in this case.

In addition, audio, video of Sheikh Hasina's conversation, media reports, and seized bullets were presented as evidence in the tribunal.

After taking the testimony, the arguments in the case began on October 12. It ended on October 23.

On that day, Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam and Attorney General Md. Asaduzzaman demanded the death penalty for Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan for crimes against humanity during the July uprising.

Meanwhile, several levels of security were increased in the tribunal and Supreme Court area in light of Sheikh Hasina's verdict. Along with the police-RAB, APBN-BGB, the army is deployed. Members of intelligence agencies are also on the alert. In the interest of security, law enforcement agencies have stopped traffic on the road leading to Shiksha Bhaban via Doel Chattar since Sunday (November 16) evening. Public movement was also restricted.

BP>TD