Verdict Today: International Crimes Tribunal to Rule on Sheikh Hasina Crimes Against Humanity Case

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is scheduled to deliver its highly anticipated verdict today in the case accusing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of crimes against humanity during last year's July-August Uprising.

The case also names former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun as co-accused. Hasina and Asaduzzaman are currently absconding, while Mamun, the only accused currently in custody, has turned state witness (approver)—a first in the tribunal's history.

The prosecution has brought five charges against the three, including incitement, provocation, and command responsibility for the killing of an alleged 1,400 people and the maiming of another 25,000 during the mass student movement.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for both Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. They also requested the confiscation of their properties to compensate the victims and their families.

Investigators previously described Hasina as the "mastermind, order-giver, and superior commander" behind the alleged atrocities. The prosecution claims that Hasina's inciteful speech on July 14, 2024, triggered a systematic campaign carried out by law enforcers and armed Awami League activists under the command of Asaduzzaman and Mamun.

The charge sheet details specific incidents, including the alleged use of helicopters, drones, and lethal weapons, and names victims such as student Abu Sayed, who was killed in Rangpur, and six people killed in Dhaka's Chankharpul area.

The judgment will be delivered by a three-member bench of Tribunal-1, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mazumdar. The proceedings will be broadcast live on Bangladesh Television and streamed on the tribunal's Facebook page.

In anticipation of the verdict, security has been significantly tightened across Dhaka and other sensitive areas. A three-layer security ring, involving uniformed and plainclothes officers, has been established around major intersections and key installations. The Supreme Court has also requested the deployment of the army.

The ICT, originally established to try 1971 Liberation War crimes, was reconstituted after the former Awami League government's fall in August 2024. The trial concluded on October 23, with the tribunal setting today, November 17, for the ruling.