Sheikh Hasina did not know about any disappearances: Lawyer

State-appointed lawyer Md. Amir Hossain, representing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the International Crimes Tribunal, said that the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina did not know whether any people were victims of disappearances in the country during her tenure.

He made this claim during the hearing of Sheikh Hasina's application for exemption from formal charges in the case of disappearances and torture at the TFI cell on Sunday.

Later, the Tribunal-1 set December 21 as the date for the order against Hasina and 17 others, including former and current army officers, in this case.

During the hearing, Amir Hossain said: "The prosecution claimed that she (Sheikh Hasina) is the mastermind behind all crimes. According to them, all disappearances were committed on the orders of Sheikh Hasina. She had direct instructions in some disappearances. But the prosecution could not show anything written documents. Because my client (Sheikh Hasina) did not order any disappearance or kidnapping. She did not know whether there was any disappearance in the country."

At that time, the tribunal said: "As the Chief Executive, can she (Sheikh Hasina) avoid responsibility?"

In response, Amir Hossain said: "Many crimes or incidents occur in a country. She (Sheikh Hasina) will not have knowledge of everything. Besides, none of these (disappearances and torture) incidents happened. All are propaganda. Because the prosecution could not show any documents. Therefore, she can definitely be exempted from the formal charges in this case."