Appeal hearing against the life sentence enhancement of Hasina-Asaduzzaman on 20 January

The Supreme Court’s Appellate Division has scheduled the hearing on 20 January regarding the state’s appeal to increase the sentences of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and ex-Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. The appeal seeks to convert their life imprisonment sentences to the death penalty in connection with crimes against humanity committed during the July mass uprising.

The hearing date was fixed today by Chamber Judge Md. Rezaul Haque. The original verdict was delivered by the International Crimes Tribunal-1 on 17 November, which sentenced Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan to the death penalty in three cases, and to life imprisonment in another three. Former Police Chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun received a five-year prison sentence in the same proceedings.

In total, five charges were brought against the three defendants, encompassing multiple incidents:

On 15 December, the prosecution filed an appeal against the life imprisonment sentences, seeking the death penalty instead. Prosecutor Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim explained that the charges had been split: some resulting in life imprisonment and others in death sentences. In total, the prosecution cited eight grounds for the appeal.

The appeal was listed as item 58 on today’s Chamber Court docket. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam and Prosecutor Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim represented the state during the brief hearing. Tamim later told Prothom Alo that the appeal had been filed for expedited hearing, and the Appellate Division’s full bench set the 20 January date. He emphasised that, according to tribunal law, all charges against Hasina and Asaduzzaman had been proven. “Life imprisonment is insufficient given the gravity of the crimes,” Tamim said.

The crimes cited include Hasina’s allegedly inciting speech at a 14 July 2024 press conference at Gonobhaban, her instructions to subordinate officials to eliminate protestors described as “Rajakar’s children,” and the subsequent killings in Rangpur and Dhaka.