The date of the verdict in the case of crimes against humanity against Sheikh Hasina has been announced. This Thursday morning, the three-member International Crimes Tribunal-1 led by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder announced the date for the verdict on November 17.
Meanwhile, strict security measures have been imposed at the International Crimes Tribunal to avoid any untoward incident surrounding the announcement of the verdict date. As part of this, the army, RAB and police are in charge of security at the main gate of the tribunal.
More than fifty law enforcement officers have been on duty inside and outside the International Crimes Tribunal and the court since Thursday morning.
The arguments in this case against Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun for crimes against humanity in connection with the killings across the country during the anti-discrimination student movement in July-August last year concluded on October 23. The Tribunal-1 fixed November 13 as the date for the announcement of the verdict. The other two members of this tribunal are Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Judge Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.
Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun has given his statement as a royal witness in this case. Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan are absconding and Chowdhury Mamun is in prison.
Attorney General Md. Asaduzzaman and the Chief Prosecutor of the Tribunal Mohammad Tajul Islam, during their final arguments on October 23, appealed for the maximum sentence (death penalty) for Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan in this case. State-appointed lawyer Amir Hossain argued for the acquittal of Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan.
On June 1 of this year, the prosecution filed a formal complaint with the Tribunal against the three accused in this case. Taking the complaint into consideration that day, arrest warrants were issued against Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan. If they could not be arrested, the tribunal ordered them to appear in the newspapers on June 16. When they did not appear even after the notice was issued, the tribunal appointed Amir Hossain, a former special public prosecutor of Dhaka’s Special Judge’s Court-8 and a pro-Awami League lawyer, on June 24 for both of them. 54 people, including participants in the movement and eyewitnesses, testified in this case. Audio, video, reports published in the media, and seized bullets were presented to the tribunal.
