B'desh's Hasina indicted in crimes against humanity case

Dhaka: A special tribunal in Ban gladesh on Thursday indicted deposed premier Sheikh Hasina in absentia on charges of crimes against humanity in connection with a deadly crack down on protesters during the July-August uprising last year. The International Crimes Tribu nal of Bangladesh (ICT-BD) has set August 3 as the date for the trial.

The tribunal has "framed the charge against her (Hasina) alongside the home minister of her regime Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and (the then) inspec tor general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun,” a prosecution lawyer told reporters. The ICT bench, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, passed the order after rejecting a defence plea to dismiss the charges.

The other two members of the tribunal are Justices Md Shofiul Alam Mahmood and Md Mohitul Haq Enam Chowdhury. The prosecutors said Hasina along with the co-accused was indicted on five charges, includ ing mass killings, murder, and torture to tame the protestors during last year's July-August up rising.

If proven guilty, the accused could face the death penalty.

According to a UN rights office report, up to 1,400 people were killed between July 15 and August 15 last year as Hasina's govern ment ordered a security crack down on protesters. With Thursday's order, the for mal trial against 72-year-old Hasina and other defendants in the case for crimes against humanity has begun for the first time.

Hasina faces multiple cases in Bangladesh after being ousted on August 5 last year following a mass student-led agitation in the country, which forced her to flee Dhaka.

Mamun, the only accused ap pearing in person, pleaded guilty when produced before the tri bunal from custody, prosecutors added. During the indictment hearing, the former police chief expressed his willingness to make a state ment in the prosecution's favour at a later stage. The presiding judge said the tribunal would lat er decide whether to treat him as an "approver".

Mamun's lawyer told journalists that the ex-police chief agreed to become a state witness, con fessing his role during the violent movement. The prosecution said the charges include the delivery of a provocative speech by Hasina at a press briefing on July 14, 2024, is suing a directive to eliminate the July Movement protesters with the use of helicopters, drones, and lethal weapons by law en forcement agencies. (AP)