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. A three-member judicial panel led by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumdar of the International Crimes Tribunal-1 gave the verdict on Monday (November 17). In the verdict, the court said that Sheikh Hasina committed crimes against humanity. At the same time, evidence of crimes against humanity has been found against Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Chowdhury Mamun. Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun has revealed the truth as a witness, and although the sentence for Mamun’s crime is the highest, his sentence will be reduced because he revealed the truth. Earlier, the tribunal began announcing the verdict at around 12:30 pm. The court read out a short part of the 453-page verdict. Incidentally, the International Crimes Tribunal was reconstituted after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024. The first case (miscase or miscellaneous case) in the case of crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising in the reconstituted tribunal was filed against Sheikh Hasina. The first trial of the reconstituted tribunal was held on October 17 last year. The tribunal issued an arrest warrant against Sheikh Hasina in this case on the same day. Initially, Sheikh Hasina was the only accused in this case. On March 16 this year, the prosecution (state side) applied to make former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun accused in this case along with Sheikh Hasina, and the tribunal approved it. The prosecution brought a total of five charges in the case of crimes against humanity committed during the 24th uprising. The tribunal’s investigation agency submitted its report on May 12. The formal charges total 8,747 pages. This includes 2,018 pages of references, 4,05 pages of seized and documentary evidence, and 2,724 pages of martyrs’ lists. Based on this, the prosecution filed a formal complaint against Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan, and Abdullah Al-Mamun in the tribunal on June 1. The tribunal took the complaint into consideration on the same day. Then, on July 10, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 framed charges against the three and ordered the trial to begin. At one stage, the tribunal approved the application of former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun to become a royal witness to uncover the truth of the incident by pleading guilty in this case. Later, he testified as a royal witness in this case. All the allegations in the case First allegation: Sheikh Hasina made a provocative speech at a press conference at Ganabhaban on July 14 last year, referring to the protesting students as ‘the children of the king’s children’ and ‘the granddaughters of the king’s children’. In this context, with the instigation, support and involvement of Asaduzzaman Khan, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun and other senior authorities of the then government, members of the law enforcement forces and armed Awami terrorists attacked the innocent and unarmed students and the public on a large scale and systematically. 1500 students and the public were shot dead. About 25 thousand were injured. Second allegation: Sheikh Hasina ordered the elimination of the protesters through the use of helicopters, drones and lethal weapons. The then Home Minister and IGP implemented that order through members of the law enforcement forces under their control and subordinates. On July 14 last year, Sheikh Hasina spoke to the then Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University ASM Maqsud Kamal and on July 18, former Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation Fazle Noor Taposh. Separate audio recordings of the conversations with the two reveal that she ordered the law enforcement forces and related forces to use lethal weapons. Sheikh Hasina’s order was given to all the forces through the then Home Minister and IGP. This order was also passed on to the Awami League and its other affiliates and the 14-party alliance. In light of this, crimes against humanity were committed. For this, charges were framed against them (Hasina, Asaduzzaman and Mamun) under Superior Responsibility. Third charge: Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman and Mamun were accused in the brutal shooting and killing of Begum Rokeya University student Abu Sayeed in Rangpur. Fourth charge: Sheikh Hasina and three others were also accused in the shooting and killing of six innocent and unarmed people protesting in Chankharpool in the capital. Fifth charge: Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman and Mamun have also been accused in the killing and burning of six innocent and unarmed people in Ashulia.