What punishment awarded to Sheikh Hasina for which crime

International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has awarded death penalty to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina for committing crimes against humanity during the July Uprising.

Besides, the tribunal sentenced five year jail term to Former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun as he also been proven guilty of crimes against humanity.

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

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).

Prosecution brought five charges against the accused in the case. The charges are--

1. The defendants are accused of abetting, inciting, and being complicit in murder, attempted murder, and torture against civilians by law enforcement and Awami League cadres following Hasina's 14 July press briefing. This charge covers widespread violence during the initial phase of protests.

2. Hasina is charged with ordering the extermination of student protesters using helicopters, drones, and lethal weapons, while her aides allegedly facilitated and executed this directive. This constitutes the most serious charge of systematic extermination.

3. The defendants face charges for the murder of student protester Abu Sayed near Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, with prosecutors alleging Hasina's inflammatory remarks led to the shooting. This is a specific incident of targeted killing.

4. The trio is accused of ordering and facilitating the shooting deaths of six unarmed protesters in Dhaka's Chankharpul on 5 August last year. This was among the deadliest single incidents during the unrest.

5. The defendants are charged with the shooting and burning of six student protesters in Ashulia, including one victim allegedly set on fire while still alive. This charge involves particularly brutal treatment of victims.

Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death on last three charges while jail unto death on first two charges. The tribunal has sentenced former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death on the fourth charge. Former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun has been sentenced to five years in prison for being an approver (state witness).