The prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal on Thursday concluded its five-day arguments in a crimes against humanity case in connection with the atrocities during the July uprising in 2024, seeking death sentences for absconding deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan.
Appearing before the three-member tribunal headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, ICT chief prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam submitted that Hasina and Asaduzzaman bore superior command responsibilities for the killing of about 1,400 people and the injury of 25,000 to 30,000 others during the 36-day student-led uprising that ended on August 5, 2024 with the fall of the Hasina-led Awami League鈥檚 17-year regime.
Tajul, however, did not seek any punishment for detained former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, saying that the tribunal would decide his fate as he had provided truthful testimony in July uprising and enforced disappearance cases, as a state evidence.
Hasina, Asaduzzaman and Mamun faced the trial for their alleged command responsibility in committing atrocities during the July uprising. Mamun was present in the dock.
Absconding Hasina and Asaduzzaman are facing the trial in absentia.
The chief prosecutor, in his Thursday鈥檚 arguments, submitted that Hasina 鈥榙eserved death 1,400 times鈥� for the killings of innocent people during the uprising but added, 鈥榯he law allows only one death sentence or any other punishment the tribunal deems appropriate鈥�.
He also sought the confiscation of the offenders鈥� properties and requested the tribunal to pass an order to calculate their properties, claiming that they had amassed illegal wealth while in power.
Tajul said there was no reason to show leniency toward Hasina, as she was still conspiring, issuing threats, and directing her party cadres from India to kill and destabilise the country.
On completion of the prosecution鈥檚 arguments, the tribunal set October 19 for placing the arguments from the defence side.
State-appointed defence lawyer Amir Hossain, representing the absconding accused Hasina and Asaduzzaman, will begin his arguments on the day.
The prosecution will then present its rebuttal. Upon completion of the prosecution鈥檚 rebuttal, the tribunal will set a date for delivering the verdict.
This is the first July uprising case against Hasina to reach the final stage.
A total of 10 cases, including two for enforced disappearances and others involving murders, torture, and other crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising, are now pending before the two International Crimes Tribunals.
Nearly 100 individuals, mostly Awami League leaders and members of the law enforcement agencies, who served under the Hasina-led regime, are facing trials in these cases.
Tajul argued that command responsibility against Hasina and Asaduzzaman had been proved beyond any iota of doubt, saying that Hasina, as the head of the executive and supreme commander, ordered the use of lethal weapons and deployment of helicopters and drones against the protesters.
He said her recorded phone conversations proved her direct involvement in the atrocities.
Tajul added that Asaduzzaman, as the then home minister, commanded all law enforcement, military, and paramilitary forces, while the then IGP oversaw operational control of subordinate forces. Both carried out the orders from the supreme commander Sheikh Hasina, he added.
He said that the charges of individual and command responsibility against the three accused met all legal standards under the Rome Statute and the Geneva Conventions.
He further argued that the July atrocities were widespread and systematic as Hasina engaged all the state resources including law enforcement agencies, military forces and their arms and ammunitions. She also used her organisation鈥� ruling party activists as auxiliary forces, to attack protesters across the country.
Tajul said that many top officials of the law enforcement agencies either escaped or refused to continue their duties after Sheikh Hasina had fled to India following the movement.
He noted that the army acted differently, deciding in meetings not to open fire on student protesters. In Mirpur, army personnel even fired towards the police to protect the protesters.
After Hasina鈥檚 departure to India, protesters and army members were seen embracing and exchanging flowers in celebration, he said.
He told the tribunal that Hasina鈥檚 communications showed intent and satisfaction over the killings, reflecting a 鈥榟ardened mindset鈥�.
He said that the political objective of the July crackdown was to eliminate opponents, whom Hasina labelled as 鈥榮ons of 1971 collaborators,鈥� to secure her rule until 2041.
Tajul submitted that Hasina, Asaduzzaman, and Mamun were fully aware of the atrocities across the country.
He described Asaduzzaman as part of a 鈥榞ang of four鈥欌�攁longside former law minister Anisul Huq, industries adviser Salman F Rahman, and Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader鈥攚ho regularly used to meet at the prime minister鈥檚 residence during the uprising.
