Bangladeshi ex pm Hasina gets death penalty for July massacre

Darwin, 17 November-

Hasina Sentenced to Death for Crimes Against Humanity

The International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity committed during the July–August mass uprising.

On Monday, at around 2:45 pm, the three-member Tribunal-1 bench led by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Mojumder delivered the verdict. The proceeding was broadcast live for the first time on state television BTV. The other members of the bench were Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmood and Judge Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.

The tribunal began reading the judgment at 12:30 pm, presenting a summary of the 453-page verdict. Portions were read by Judge Mohitul Haque and Justice Shafiul Alam Mahmood, while the main findings and conclusions were read by Justice Golam Mortuza Mojumder.

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abdullah Al Mamun — who testified as a state witness after being an accused — was sentenced to five years in prison. The court said Sheikh Hasina was found guilty on three charges.

The case is significant for multiple reasons: this is the first verdict among the cases filed over crimes against humanity linked to the July uprising, and it marks the first time in Bangladesh’s history that a former head of government has been tried for such charges.

Although Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal are currently fugitives in India, the state appointed lawyers to represent them in court after they declined to hire counsel. The state-appointed lawyer expressed hope for an acquittal.

Five charges were brought against Hasina, Kamal, and former IGP Mamun. According to the prosecution, Hasina delivered an inciteful speech during a press conference at Ganabhaban, and later ordered the use of lethal weapons, helicopters, and drones to suppress protesters. She was also accused of responsibility for the shooting death of Abu Saeed, a student of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, the killing of six protesters in Dhaka’s Chankharpul, and the burning to death of six people in Ashulia.

In the wake of the verdict, security has been tightened nationwide as the banned Awami League called for a shutdown marked by crude bomb explosions and arson attacks in several areas. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has been deployed in Dhaka and four other districts, while the army, RAB, and BGB remain on high alert around the tribunal premises. Dhaka Metropolitan Police has deployed 15,000 officers across the capital.

A large number of international media outlets gathered to cover the verdict. Reporters from BBC, Al Jazeera, AP, AFP, and other global news networks were present outside the tribunal from Monday morning.

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