The International Crimes Tribunal-1 is scheduled today to set a date for delivering its verdict in the crimes against humanity case against absconding deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, and detained former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun.
They were tried for their alleged superior command responsibility in the atrocities committed across the country during the July uprising last year.
This will be the first verdict in a case of crimes against humanity involving the July uprising that ousted the Hasina-led Awami League regime on August 5, 2024.
The verdict date comes amid heightened tension, with crude bombs exploding, public transports set on fire, and flash processions erupting in the capital and elsewhere in the country since the Awami League, whose activities are currently banned, announced a 鈥楧haka Lockdown鈥� for today on social media ahead of the tribunal鈥檚 decision.
Security has been tightened around the tribunal compound, the Supreme Court, the Attorney General鈥檚 Office, and the Supreme Court Bar Association premises.
Inspector general of police Baharul Alam and Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner SM Sazzat Ali visited the ICT compound on Tuesday and Monday to oversee the security measures.
The Supreme Court administration sent a letter to the Army headquarters requesting army deployment on the court compound, the SC public relations officer, Shafiqul Islam, said.
The three-member tribunal, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, concluded the trial on October 23 after hearing closing arguments from attorney general Md Asaduzzaman and chief prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam.
The bench on that day announced that it would fix a date for the verdict on November 13 and would not delay its pronouncement.
Both the attorney general and the chief prosecutor sought death sentences for Hasina and Asaduzzaman, arguing that exemplary punishment was needed to prevent future governments from committing similar crimes using state power. Both remain hiding in India.
The prosecution did not seek punishment for former IGP Mamun, who testified as state evidence, leaving his fate to the tribunal.
Hasina and Asaduzzaman were tried in absentia, while detained ex-IGP Mamun appeared in the dock.
State-appointed defence counsel Amir Hossain sought acquittal for Hasina and Asaduzzaman, arguing that the prosecution failed to prove the elements of 鈥榳idespread and systematic attacks鈥� or superior command responsibility as required under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973, and international law.
On July 10, the tribunal took cognisance of five charges against the accused.
The first charge accused the trio of inciting the July violence. Hasina allegedly provoked attacks on protesters by calling them 鈥榮ons and grandchildren of Razakars鈥� on July 14, 2024.
The second charge links to an order for lethal action as she allegedly instructed the DU vice-chancellor and law enforcement agencies to 鈥榟ang or kill鈥� protesters and directed the use of live fire and drones against them.
The third charge is linked to the killing of Abu Sayeed. The accused allegedly ordered police and ruling party activists to open fire on unarmed protesters at Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, killing student leader Abu Sayeed on July 16, 2024.
The fourth charge is connected to killings during the March to Dhaka programme. Six unarmed protesters were allegedly killed during the 鈥楳arch to Dhaka鈥� on August 5, 2024.
The fifth charge is linked to an arson attack on protesters at Ashulia. Five protesters were allegedly burned alive near Ashulia Police Station the same day, with another injured protester thrown into the fire.
The ICT Investigation Agency submitted its report to the chief prosecutor鈥檚 office on May 12, and the chief prosecutor pressed the charges before the tribunal on June 1.
