The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-1) has scheduled November 17 to deliver the verdict in the crimes against humanity case against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and two co-accused regarding the suppression of the July Uprising.
A three-member ICT-1 bench, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, set the date on Thursday, following the conclusion of arguments on October 23.
Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, both tried in absentia as "fugitives" after fleeing to India, face five charges related to incitement, superior command responsibility, and giving orders that allegedly resulted in the killing of 1,400 people.
Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, the only accused in prison, has confessed and petitioned to turn state's witness. Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam has sought the death penalty for Hasina and Kamal.
The five charges include Hasina's "provocative speech" on July 14 last year, ordering the use of lethal weapons, and specific incidents of killing protesters in Rangpur and Dhaka, and burning six people in Ashulia.
The timing comes as several parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, had demanded the completion of the trial before the next elections.
The announcement was made amid significantly heightened tensions and security measures across the capital: Security at the International Crimes Tribunal premises has been substantially increased since Thursday morning, with deployment of Police, Armed Police Battalion (APBn), and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel. Army personnel are also patrolling, and BGB/police armored vehicles are stationed nearby.
A total of 17,000 police personnel have been deployed at key points in Dhaka. BGB and the Army are also on alert across the capital.
The security measures are directly related to the "banned" Awami League's call for a "Dhaka Lockdown" program on Thursday, which followed sporadic bombings and vehicle torchings in recent days.
Prosecutor Md Mizanul Islam affirmed that the law-enforcing agencies will "put a firm stop" to any attempt to create chaos, claiming that questions raised about the trial process are mere "propaganda."
