DHAKA: Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina was on Monday sentenced to loss of life in absentia by a tribunal for “crimes in opposition to humanity” over her govt’s crackdown on a “nationwide mass rebellion” final 12 months that led to her ouster. She was accused of crimes akin to homicide, tried homicide and torture, and different inhumane acts in addition to ordering the usage of deadly weapons, helicopters and drones to subdue protesters.The Bangladesh Worldwide Crimes Tribunal’s (ICT) verdict, which got here months earlier than the parliamentary election, described Hasina, 78, because the “mastermind and principal architect” of the violent repression that killed a whole bunch of protesters, together with college students. Hasina, whose Awami League has been barred from contesting the ballot scheduled to be held in Feb, fled to India in Aug 5 final 12 months amid the unrest.In a press release, Hasina described the ICT as a “rigged tribunal established and presided over by an unelected govt with no democratic mandate”, referring to the Muhammad Yunus-led interim govt. The judgment is “biased and politically motivated” and “of their distasteful name for loss of life penalty, they reveal the brazen and murderous intent of extremist figures inside the interim govt to take away Bangladesh’s final elected PM and nullify Awami League as a political power,” Hasina mentioned.’
The ICT additionally handed loss of life sentence to her shut aide and former house minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on comparable fees. The third accused within the case and former inspector basic of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who testified as a state witness, was sentenced to 5 years in jail.Hasina mentioned the fees have been unjustified, arguing that she and Khan “acted in good religion and have been attempting to minimise the lack of life. We misplaced management of the state of affairs, however to characterise what occurred as a premeditated assault on residents is just to misinterpret the details.” Her Awami League celebration referred to as for a nationwide shutdown on Tuesday to protest the decision. Hasina can’t enchantment the decision except she surrenders or is arrested inside 30 days of the judgment.The three-member tribunal, headed by chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, started delivering the decision round 12.30pm, which was broadcast on state-owned BTV. A few of these within the packed courtroom cheered when Hasina was sentenced to loss of life. He admonished them. In a press release, Yunus mentioned the decision supplied justice to those that have been harmed within the rebellion: “Nobody, no matter energy, is above the legislation.” The BNP, headed by former PM Khaleda Zia, hailed the decision. In a message to AP, Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed mentioned the “verdict is a joke and meaningless.”