Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman on Thursday asserted that the prosecution has conclusively established the charges in the crimes against humanity case against three accused, including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, for atrocities committed during the July–August Mass Uprising.
Presenting his final argument before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1, headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Mojumder, Asaduzzaman said that the prosecution had placed comprehensive documentary, oral, and circumstantial evidence that collectively proved the case beyond any reasonable doubt.
“The defence claimed the accused gave no orders and were innocent. Thankfully, they did not deny that the July Uprising occurred, that 1,400 people were killed, or that over 30,000 were injured. If we accept that such an uprising took place, resulting in so many casualties under state patronage and through state mechanisms, then we must ask—who were responsible for these crimes?” he said.
According to the Attorney General, the prosecution has thoroughly demonstrated who orchestrated, executed, and oversaw the systematic violence. “The accused utilized state apparatus to carry out widespread and organized killings. We have shown the command structure, the orders issued, and the roles each individual played. These were deliberate crimes against humanity. The accused then fled abroad but remain actively engaged in attempts to derail the trial from exile,” he added.
Asaduzzaman emphasized that the evidence presented could withstand scrutiny in any court globally. “If this case were tried anywhere else, no fair tribunal could refrain from convicting the accused in the interest of justice,” he noted.
He further observed, “As a nation striving for moral and civilizational progress, failing to ensure justice here would brand us, in poet Helal Hafiz’s words, as cowards before future generations.”
Addressing concerns over fairness, he said, “Many ask whether the accused will receive justice. But justice cannot be seen only through their lens. What about the 1,400 people who were brutally killed? What about the thousands who were crippled or lost loved ones? Does the state not deserve justice as well?”
Referring to Sheikh Hasina’s absence, Asaduzzaman remarked, “I had once hoped she would return to face trial. She once challenged another leader to come back to Bangladesh and stand before the court if he had courage. I believed she meant it. Today, I see she did not. If she truly possessed courage, she would have returned to face justice on Bangladeshi soil.”
Turning to the tribunal bench, the Attorney General said, “No matter the challenges, this trial must reach a just conclusion. If we cannot ensure justice for the innocent—children, young men, and ordinary citizens like Anas, Mugdha, and Abu Sayeed—Bangladesh will fail morally as a nation.” He concluded, “The prosecution has proven the charges in this case beyond any doubt.”
