Verdict Date Set Today in Sheikh Hasina’s Crimes Against Humanity Case

Today, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 is scheduled to set the verdict date in the case against Sheikh Hasina and two others for crimes against humanity committed during the popular student uprising. The other defendants are former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and ex-Inspector General of Police Abdullah Al Mamun. This marks the first time in Bangladesh’s history that a serving head of government will face a verdict in this tribunal.

While the prosecution has sought the maximum sentence for Hasina and Kamal, the tribunal will decide Mamun’s sentence, as he has been granted “approver” status after admitting the truth of the events. Mamun has sought acquittal through his privately appointed lawyer, Zayed Bin Amjad.

Following the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August last year, amid the student-led movement, the International Crimes Tribunal was reconstituted. In the reconstituted tribunal, Sheikh Hasina became the first defendant in a case concerning crimes against humanity during the mass uprising. Notably, this is the first time a defendant in the tribunal has applied to become an “approver” and admit the facts of the case. Former police chief Abdullah Al Mamun’s application for approver status was approved by the tribunal.

For the first time in the country’s history, the judicial proceedings were broadcast live on Bangladesh Television, with other TV and media outlets also covering the trial in collaboration with BTV. This allowed citizens to follow the proceedings from their homes via TV or mobile devices.

Prosecutor Gazi Monowar Hossain Tamim told Manobzamin that the formal charges list includes five specific allegations against the defendants, including ordering and planning shootings and killings of unarmed students during the anti-discrimination student movement. The tribunal will set the verdict date on Thursday. The prosecution believes it has successfully proven the charges against Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and Abdullah Al Mamun, and that they were involved in crimes against humanity.

As Mamun has been an approver, the tribunal retains full discretion over his sentence. The approver may be fully acquitted, given a reduced sentence, or subject to other measures entirely at the tribunal’s discretion.