Sheikh Hasina's verdict to take effect after arrest if appeal not filed within 30 days: Prosecutor

If ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal do not appeal within 30 days of the verdict and are arrested, the verdict will take effect after arrest, said International Crimes Tribunal Prosecutor Gazi Monwar Hussain Tamim.

"If they do not appeal within 30 days, they will not be able to appeal anymore," he told reporters at the tribunal premises on Tuesday (November 18) afternoon.

He said: "A condonation or delay pardon can be applied for in a delay. But if a special law (such as the International Crimes Tribunal Act) has a deadline, then under no circumstances can a delay pardon be granted if it is exceeded."

He clearly said: "Once these 30 days have passed, there is no opportunity to apply for a pardon or delay pardon. The government will then implement the verdict."

On Monday (November 17), the International Crimes Tribunal-1 sentenced Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death in a case of crimes against humanity. Former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun was sentenced to five years in prison for his conviction in the same case.

Section 21 of the Tribunal Act stipulates the right of appeal of convicted defendants. According to Section 21(3), an appeal must be filed within 30 days from the date of the announcement of the verdict, and no appeal will be accepted after the time has passed.

On the other hand, Section 21(4) states that the appeal must be disposed of within 60 days from the date of receipt of the appeal.