India’s statement on Sheikh Hasina’s death sentence

India has issued a statement on the death sentence of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a case of crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising. Referring to the verdict against Sheikh Hasina, the country said that it is committed to upholding peace, democracy, inclusiveness and stability for the people of Bangladesh. India said this in a statement posted on the official Facebook page of the Ministry of External Affairs of India on Monday (November 17).
In the statement, India said, “India notes the verdict pronounced against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by the ‘International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh’. As a close neighbour, India is committed to upholding the best interests of the people of Bangladesh – especially peace, democracy, inclusiveness and stability. We will continue to engage constructively with all parties to achieve this goal.”
In this regard, the International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death in a case of crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising. She has been sentenced to death on two charges. In addition, the tribunal sentenced former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death and former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun to five years in prison. Yesterday, a three-member Tribunal-1 headed by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder announced the verdict. The other two members of the tribunal are Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Justice Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.
In the verdict, the tribunal said, “The guilt of three accused including Sheikh Hasina has been proven. Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death on three charges. Former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has been sentenced to death on one charge. Former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun has been sentenced to five years in prison for being a witness in the case.”
Yesterday at 12:40 pm, Justice Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury, a member of the judicial panel, began reading the first part of the 453-page verdict in six chapters. Chairman of Tribunal-1, Justice Md. The other member of the three-member judicial panel headed by Golam Mortuza Majumder is Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud.
The tribunal announced the verdict against Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal at 2:50 pm after reading a brief verdict of 2 hours and 10 minutes. Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun apologized to the court and the nation on that day.
The International Crimes Tribunal was reconstituted on August 5, 2024, after the fall of the Awami League government. The first case in the reconstituted tribunal was against Sheikh Hasina for crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising. The first trial of the reconstituted tribunal was held on October 17 last year. On that day, the tribunal issued an arrest warrant against Sheikh Hasina in this case.