The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is likely to fix Thursday the date for delivering its verdict in a case filed against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and two others on charges of crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising.
This is the first trial over the atrocities committed during last year’s upheaval that toppled the Sheikh Hasina regime which has reached its final stage.
Prosecutor Mizanul Islam expressed his expectation that the ICT would set the date for the verdict on Thursday. He was speaking to journalists at the ICT premises following the conclusion of three consecutive days of arguments placed by state-appointed defence counsel Amir Hossain.
The arguments were presented before a three-member Tribunal-1 bench headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder.
Former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun are also key accused in the case.
Among the three, only Mamun is currently in custody and has become an approver by confessing to his crimes. The other two accused, Hasina and Kamal, are being tried in absentia as fugitives.
Mizanul said the state-appointed defence lawyer had concluded the arguments for absconding Hasina and Kamal, as well as for state approver Mamun.
“The prosecution will now respond. Some responses have already been presented. The chief prosecutor and the attorney general will deliver the closing arguments. After that, the tribunal will formally fix the date for the verdict,” he said.
Earlier, the prosecution brought five charges of crimes against humanity against the three accused, based on a probe report filed by the ICT investigation agency on 12 May. The tribunal framed the charges against the trio on 10 July.
The formal charge sheet spans 8,747 pages, including 2,018 pages of reference materials, 4,005 pages of seizure lists and documentary evidence, and 2,724 pages detailing the list of martyrs.
Presenting arguments on Wednesday, Amir Hossain sought the acquittal of his clients, claiming they were innocent.
He challenged the testimonies of several witnesses, particularly prosecution witness Abdullah Al-Mamun, Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman, and National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam.
He rejected their testimonies, alleging that Mamun was attempting to shift blame onto others to save himself. Amir also argued that Mahmudur Rahman, due to ideological opposition, had a personal bias against Sheikh Hasina, rendering his testimony unreliable.
Following this, Zayed Bin Amzad, the lawyer representing prosecution witness Mamun, presented further arguments.
Earlier, on 10 July, during hearings related to the student-led mass uprising, Mamun admitted his involvement in crimes against humanity.
“The allegations of murder and mass killings during the July–August movement are true. I accept responsibility and plead guilty. As a prosecution witness, I wish to present the full details of the crimes committed during that time and assist the court in uncovering the truth,” he told the ICT on that day.
Earlier, on 16 October, Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam placed arguments for five consecutive days, presenting various documentaries made on the July uprising, audio recordings of telephonic conversations between Sheikh Hasina and different individuals, among other evidence, before the court.
He sought the death penalty for Hasina and Kamal, while leaving the fate of former IGP Mamun to the tribunal’s decision, as the latter testified as a state witness.
A total of 54 prosecution witnesses — including the father of July martyr Abu Sayed and NCP Convener Nahid Islam, among others — testified in the case and were cross-examined by the defence counsel.
On 17 June, ICT-1 published notices in two national dailies asking Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to surrender before the court by 24 June.
“As per Rule 31 of the International Crimes (Tribunal-1) Rules of Procedure, 2010 (Amendment 2025), they are ordered to surrender before this tribunal on 24 June 2025. Otherwise, the trial will proceed in absentia under Section 10A of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973,” the notice said.
The tribunal issued the notices on 16 June after taking cognisance of the formal charge submitted on 1 June.
Chief Prosecutor Tajul informed the court that Hasina and Kamal were absconding, citing intelligence reports suggesting that they were in India.
