Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has announced that it will deliver its verdict on November 17 in the high-profile case against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is being tried in absentia on charges of crimes against humanity.
The three-judge tribunal fixed the verdict date after extensive hearings on allegations that Hasina ordered a violent crackdown during a student-led uprising that led to the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024.
Hasina, 78, has been residing in India since her ouster and has repeatedly ignored court summons to return and face trial.
“We have completed a long journey and are now in its final phase. The court will pronounce the verdict on the 17th,” said ICT-BD Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam. He added that “justice will be served according to the law.” Islam has previously requested the tribunal to impose the death penalty on Hasina.
High-profile accused and testimonies
Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun were charged with ordering mass killings to crush the “July Uprising.”
While Hasina and Kamal were declared fugitives and tried in absentia, Mamun appeared before the tribunal and later turned approver.
The trial, which began on June 1, concluded on October 23 after 28 working days of proceedings. During the hearings, 54 witnesses testified, detailing violent crackdowns and alleged state-backed atrocities during the nationwide student protests.
Dhaka under tight security ahead of verdict
Dhaka witnessed an unprecedented security clampdown on Thursday after the Awami League announced a “Dhaka lockdown” ahead of the verdict.
Army personnel, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) teams, and heavily armed police forces were deployed across the capital, especially around the ICT-BD complex in central Dhaka.
Officials stated that the heightened security measures will continue in the coming days to maintain order and prevent any unrest leading up to the tribunal’s announcement.