Tribunal orders confiscation of Sheikh Hasina, Kamal's properties

The International Crimes Tribunal has ordered to confiscate all properties in the country belonging to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, who were sentenced to death in a case of crimes against humanity.

The three-member International Crimes Tribunal-1 headed by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder gave this order on Monday.

A three-member panel of ICT-1, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder pronounced the verdict on Monday, November 17.

While pronouncing the verdict, the tribunal said: "For the crimes committed by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, not only death sentences have been imposed but all their properties have also been ordered to be confiscated and taken into the state's favor. This order must be implemented quickly."

Earlier in the day, the ICT began reading out the verdict in the much-anticipated case over crimes against humanity against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in the face of a mass uprising in July–August 2024 around 12:40pm on Monday (November 17).

This is the first case filed over killings and other crimes against humanity committed during the July Uprising.

The 453-page verdict consists of six parts, said one of the judges of the panel while stating the preamble of the verdict. He also said, there is no scope under the law to raise a question over the jurisdiction of the ICT.

The judgement was broadcast live on Bangladesh Television and shown on large screens at several locations in Dhaka under cultural ministry initiative. The tribunal's Facebook page is also streaming the proceedings.

On November 13, the ICT set today (November 17) as the date for announcing the verdict.

Over 28 working days, the tribunal heard testimonies from 54 out of the 81 listed witnesses. Mamun has already given his statement before the tribunal, confessing his involvement and testifying as a state witness.