(Image source from: PTI)
Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal has condemned ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for reported offenses against humanity. The court found Hasina responsible on three charges after a trial lasting several months, determining she ordered a violent suppression of a student protest last year that resulted in her Awami League government's collapse.
The three-judge panel, led by Justice Mohd Golam Mortuza Majumder, also issued verdicts for Hasina's two associates, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, on the same accusations. The court stated the three defendants conspired to commit brutal acts to murder demonstrators across the nation. Nevertheless, it forgave the former police chief, who "apologized to the tribunal and the people of the country." Hasina and Kamal were declared missing and tried without being present, while Mamun initially stood trial in person before agreeing to testify against others.
The court in Bangladesh recognized that students, including women, became very angry after insulting comments were made. They noted that Sheikh Hasina then told people to "get rid of the protesting students." The judges also said that the prosecution's evidence showed that groups connected to the Awami League, like the Chhatra League and Yuva League, attacked students at Dhaka University. The court stated that "Sheikh Hasina told police and other agencies to use drones to find groups of protesters and to use helicopters and deadly weapons to kill them."
The court further stated that former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun helped in these actions, including using drones, deadly weapons, and helicopters, and failed to stop the terrible acts, thus committing crimes against humanity for which they should be punished. However, Abdullah Al-Mamun was forgiven because he told everything he knew about the crime and admitted his part. The court found Hasina and Kamal guilty, saying that their absence suggested they were guilty. Judge Golam Mortuza Mozumder announced to the full courtroom in Dhaka that Hasina was "found guilty of three charges," which included encouraging violence, ordering killings, and not stopping the terrible acts.
Hasina, Kamal, and Mamun were charged with five crimes, such as murder, trying to murder, torture, and other cruel acts. One main charge was that Hasina ordered the killing of protesters. She was also accused of saying things that caused anger and telling people to use dangerous weapons against students during a large protest in August 2024 that made her leave her position. A UN report suggests that as many as 1,400 people died between July 15 and August 15 during the "July Uprising" when her government severely cracked down on security. Hasina, who is 78, is now living outside her country in India, after not following court orders to appear for trial for ordering a deadly crackdown on a student protest on August 5, 2024. The main lawyer, Mohammad Tajul Islam, called Hasina the "main planner and creator" of the alleged terrible acts during the protests. But her followers say these charges are for political reasons.
Hasina left Bangladesh on August 4, 2024, because of growing unrest and has been in India since then. It is also thought that Kamal is hiding in India. The temporary government led by Muhammad Yunus has asked India to send Hasina back, but India has not yet answered.
Following the verdict, Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner, gave orders on Sunday evening for police to shoot anyone who committed arson, caused explosions, or tried to hurt police or regular people. The Awami League, which is no longer active, had announced a two-day closure before the decision was made. Soldiers, Border Guard Bangladesh members, and riot police are stationed around the ICT-BD building, and most streets in the capital are empty due to worries about unrest.
