Bangladesh’s Worldwide Crimes Tribunal will start listening to prices towards ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as we speak, in a historic transfer that can be broadcast dwell on state-run tv for the primary time. The tribunal might hand her a dying sentence if convicted.
Bangladesh’s Worldwide Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) will on Sunday start formal hearings into prices towards deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, in a historic first that can see the proceedings broadcast dwell on state-run Bangladesh Tv (BTV). Hasina, who was ousted from workplace on August 5, 2024, following a mass student-led rebellion, faces a number of instances linked to alleged crimes in the course of the July–August violence that rocked the nation.
The three-judge tribunal had ordered the prosecution to finish its investigation by April. On Sunday, formal prices are to be submitted, together with allegations of crimes towards humanity, which carry the dying penalty.
Reside broadcast marks judicial first
The dwell broadcast marks a major departure from previous judicial apply in Bangladesh, the place pictures and telecast of court docket proceedings have sometimes been barred. “The complete nation will witness the submission of the primary formal prices to the tribunal towards influential figures of the ousted Awami League authorities, together with Sheikh Hasina,” mentioned ICT-BD prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim. He mentioned the hearings would start at 9:30 am native time.
Fees stem from 2024 student-led rebellion
The state-run BSS information company reported that the costs relate to Hasina’s position within the state response to the July–August 2024 protests. The motion, led by the College students In opposition to Discrimination (SAD) platform, pressured the Awami League out of energy, after which Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was appointed Chief Adviser of the interim authorities on August 8.
A number of senior officers additionally charged
ICT-BD chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam mentioned Sunday’s listening to would additionally cowl prices towards former residence minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, each of whom are in jail.
Interim authorities seeks Hasina’s repatriation
An arrest warrant towards Hasina was issued earlier, with the interim authorities formally requesting her repatriation from India. New Delhi has acknowledged the observe however made no additional remark. Most senior leaders of the previous Hasina administration have been arrested. They face prices starting from mass homicide to suppression of dissent throughout final 12 months’s violence, which, in line with the UN human rights workplace, left some 1,400 folks lifeless between July 15 and August 15, together with college students and safety personnel.
Tribunal initially arrange for 1971 conflict crimes
Initially fashioned to attempt collaborators of Pakistani forces within the 1971 Liberation Battle, the tribunal has beforehand sentenced to dying a number of Jamaat-e-Islami and Bangladesh Nationalist Occasion (BNP) leaders.
(With inputs from PTI)