Saturday, 12 July, 2025
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has ordered that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, and former Inspector General of Police Abdullah Al Mamun stand trial for crimes against humanity in connection with the deadly suppression of the July Uprising.
A three-member bench of the ICT, led by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, issued the order on Thursday after rejecting petitions from Hasina and Khan seeking dismissal of the charges. The other members of the tribunal are Justice Md Shofiul Alam Mahmood and Judge Md Mohitul Haq Enam Chowdhury.
Former police chief Abdullah Al Mamun, who is currently the only accused in custody, has pleaded guilty and petitioned to become a state witness. The court has accepted his plea in principle, and security arrangements are being considered following a request from his lawyer, Zayed Bin Amjad, for separate accommodation due to safety concerns.
Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan, both of whom are reportedly outside the country, will be tried in absentia.
The tribunal has scheduled August 3 for the prosecution’s opening statement and August 4 for the first witness testimony.
This marks the first time Sheikh Hasina has been formally charged in a crimes against humanity case. The indictment is being brought before the same tribunal originally established by her administration to prosecute war criminals from 1971.
The prosecution has brought five charges against the three accused, including:
Incitement and instigation of violence
Issuing direct orders to kill more than 1,400 people
Superior command responsibility
Participation in a joint criminal enterprise
To support its case, the prosecution submitted an audio recording allegedly featuring Hasina giving instructions to use lethal force against demonstrators, along with eyewitness testimonies.
State-appointed defence counsel Amir Hossain represented Hasina and Khan at the hearing and had submitted motions to drop them from the case, which the tribunal rejected.
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam led the prosecution during Thursday’s proceedings.
Comments
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has ordered that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, and former Inspector General of Police Abdullah Al Mamun stand trial for crimes against humanity in connection with the deadly suppression of the July Uprising.
A three-member bench of the ICT, led by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, issued the order on Thursday after rejecting petitions from Hasina and Khan seeking dismissal of the charges. The other members of the tribunal are Justice Md Shofiul Alam Mahmood and Judge Md Mohitul Haq Enam Chowdhury.
Former police chief Abdullah Al Mamun, who is currently the only accused in custody, has pleaded guilty and petitioned to become a state witness. The court has accepted his plea in principle, and security arrangements are being considered following a request from his lawyer, Zayed Bin Amjad, for separate accommodation due to safety concerns.
Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan, both of whom are reportedly outside the country, will be tried in absentia.
The tribunal has scheduled August 3 for the prosecution’s opening statement and August 4 for the first witness testimony.
This marks the first time Sheikh Hasina has been formally charged in a crimes against humanity case. The indictment is being brought before the same tribunal originally established by her administration to prosecute war criminals from 1971.
The prosecution has brought five charges against the three accused, including:
Incitement and instigation of violence
Issuing direct orders to kill more than 1,400 people
Superior command responsibility
Participation in a joint criminal enterprise
To support its case, the prosecution submitted an audio recording allegedly featuring Hasina giving instructions to use lethal force against demonstrators, along with eyewitness testimonies.
State-appointed defence counsel Amir Hossain represented Hasina and Khan at the hearing and had submitted motions to drop them from the case, which the tribunal rejected.
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam led the prosecution during Thursday’s proceedings.
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