Five Charges Brought Against Sheikh Hasina and Two Others

A total of five charges have been brought against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two other accused in a case concerning crimes against humanity committed during the July mass uprising.

The charges include delivering provocative statements; issuing orders to eliminate protestors using lethal weapons; shooting dead Abu Saeed, a student of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur; shooting dead six protestors in the capital’s Chankharpul area; and burning six people to death in Ashulia.

Alongside Sheikh Hasina, the other accused in the case are former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. Among the three, Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman are currently absconding and are residing in India.

The verdict in the case will be delivered today, Monday, by the International Crimes Tribunal-1. Proceedings of the verdict announcement are expected to be broadcast live from the courtroom. This is the first case concerning killings and crimes against humanity during the mass uprising for which a verdict is being delivered today.

The three-member International Crimes Tribunal-1, headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, will announce the verdict. The other members are Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmood and Judge Mohitul Hoque Enam Chowdhury.

At a briefing held yesterday, Sunday, in the tribunal premises, Prosecutor Gazi Monowar Hussain Tamim stated that they had been able to prove all five charges against the accused beyond reasonable doubt. He said the prosecution would accept whatever decision the tribunal delivers in the interest of justice.

He added that the portion of the verdict that the tribunal reads out will be broadcast live with the court’s permission.

The National Central Bureau (NCB) of Bangladesh Police had applied to Interpol for issuing a ‘Red Notice’ against Sheikh Hasina.

Prosecutor Gazi Monowar said that if the tribunal sentences Sheikh Hasina, the prosecution will apply to Interpol for issuing a ‘conviction warrant’ to facilitate the issuance of a Red Notice against her.

Khaborwala/TSN