Bangladesh is bracing for a tense Monday as the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) prepares to deliver its verdict in a high-profile case against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina. The 78-year-old leader, who was ousted during last year’s student-led uprising, is being tried in absentia on charges of crimes against humanity.
Death Penalty Sought for Hasina and Her Aides
According to Prosecutor Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim, the three-member tribunal is scheduled to sit at 11 a.m. to announce its decision. Alongside Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and ex-police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun are also facing judgment. Prosecutors have demanded the death penalty, describing Hasina as the “mastermind and principal architect” behind the alleged atrocities.
Hasina’s supporters insist the charges are politically engineered by the interim administration under Muhammad Yunus.
A Case Rooted in Last Year’s Violent Uprising
The trial centers on the turbulent weeks between July 15 and August 15, 2024, when massive student-led protests swept across Bangladesh. A UN rights office report estimated that up to 1,400 people were killed during the crackdown ordered by Hasina’s government—an episode now known as the July Uprising.
The tribunal wrapped up its hearings on October 23 after 28 working days. A total of 54 witnesses detailed the state response that ultimately led to the collapse of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024.
Hasina fled the country the same day and has since been living in India. Kamal is believed to have also taken refuge there. The interim government has requested their extradition, although New Delhi has not publicly responded.
Charges Include Murder, Torture, and Extermination
Hasina, Kamal, and Mamun face five counts, including murder, attempted murder, torture, and other inhumane acts. One charge accuses Hasina of ordering the “extermination” of protesters and making inflammatory remarks that allegedly encouraged the use of lethal force.
Additional charges relate to the killing of six unarmed protesters in Dhaka and nearby areas.
Mamun initially faced trial in person but later turned approver—an unexpected development that has fueled political controversy.
Heavy Security Across Bangladesh
Dhaka and other major cities remained on edge Sunday night after Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali issued a shoot-on-sight order for anyone involved in arson, explosives, or violence ahead of the verdict.
Army troops, Border Guard Bangladesh units, and riot police have been deployed around the ICT-BD complex. Streets in the capital appeared unusually quiet, with residents staying indoors amid fears of clashes. The now-disbanded Awami League has also announced a two-day shutdown.
Hasina Calls Tribunal ‘Kangaroo Court’
In recent interviews with international media, Hasina denounced the proceedings as a politically motivated “kangaroo court” run by individuals aligned with her rivals. She expressed willingness to stand trial under international supervision, even at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
She accused the Yunus-led government of avoiding an impartial process, insisting such a court would “acquit her”.
A Tribunal Designed for War Crimes Now Trying Former Rulers
The ICT-BD was originally established to prosecute collaborators of Pakistan’s military during the 1971 Liberation War. The interim government later amended the law to enable the prosecution of political leaders from the previous regime—a move critics say weaponizes the institution for political vengeance.
Most senior Awami League leaders are either jailed or have fled Bangladesh.
Today’s verdict marks a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s political landscape. Whether seen as a step toward justice or a deepening of political vendetta, the tribunal’s decision will likely shape the nation’s future and fuel intense debates both at home and abroad.