Sheikh Hasina’s Verdict Tomorrow: Law Enforcement Agencies on High Alert

The verdict in the case concerning crimes against humanity committed during the July Uprising against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two other accused will be announced tomorrow, Monday.

The maximum penalty for these crimes is the death sentence. Additionally, any person convicted of other penalties will be disqualified from participating in all elections, including the National Parliament election. The name of the convicted person will also be removed from the voter list.

In anticipation of the verdict announcement, law enforcement agencies will be maintaining a state of maximum alert. A coordinated security plan has been put in place by law enforcement agencies to counteract any subversive activities by the banned Awami League.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1, led by Chairman Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Mozumder set the date for the verdict announcement on November 13. The two other accused in the case are former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun.

With the announcement of this verdict, this case will be the first among the pending trials concerning crimes against humanity committed during the July Uprising to reach completion.

The Tribunal reserved the verdict on October 23 after the prosecution and defense concluded their legal arguments. On that day, the Tribunal indicated, “The date for the verdict will be announced on November 13. But it (the verdict) will be delivered very soon.” Following this, the Tribunal, led by Chairman Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Mozumder announced the verdict date as November 17 (Monday) on November 13. The other two members of the Tribunal are Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Judge Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury. Before the announcement of the verdict date, the sole accused in the case, Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, was brought to the dock of the Tribunal.