The International Crimes Tribunal is set to deliver a landmark verdict today in the case accusing ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and two of her top aides of committing crimes against humanity during the 2024 July uprising – a ruling that could see Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal handed the death penalty.

The tribunal, originally established under Hasina’s own government, will announce the judgment in the high-profile case that also names former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun as a co-accused.

Hasina, 78, has ignored court orders to return from India to face charges relating to the deadly 2024 crackdown.

Prosecutors say she and Kamal are expected to receive the death sentence, while Mamun may avoid capital punishment after turning state witness, pleading guilty and testifying against the two.

The prosecution brought five charges of crimes against humanity, including incitement, the use of le-thal weapons, the killing of Abu Sayed, the Chankharpul mass killing and the burning of bodies in Ashulia. All three are being tried on the doctrine of “superior command responsibility” for what prose-cutors described as “widespread” and “systematic” attacks.

Evidence submitted includes video footage, intercepted communications and witness testimony, all intended to show that Hasina – as head of government and leader of the Awami League – exercised “command and control” over state security forces and armed party activists during the 2024 atrocities.

The trial concluded within 15 months of the collapse of the Hasina-led Awami League government. Hasina fled Bangladesh on 5 August 2024 after the student-led uprising forced her from power.

On 23 October, the three-member ICT-1 bench – Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, Justice Md Shofiul Alam Mahmood and Md Mohitul Haq Enam Chowdhury – announced it would set a verdict date. On 13 November, the tribunal fixed 17 November for delivery of the judgment.

Bangladesh Television (BTV) and the ICT Chief Prosecutor’s Office’s Facebook page will broadcast the proceedings live.

ICT Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim said the portion of the verdict read out in court would be aired on BTV alongside private channels, pending final approval.

Although this is the first crimes-against-humanity trial against Hasina and the first verdict related to the 2024 atrocities, the Awami League chief is already a fugitive after being convicted in a contempt of court case. On 2 July, she and a local Awami League leader were sentenced to six months in prison for contempt.

The government has stated it will enforce the tribunal’s ruling.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said on Sunday that security forces were ready to execute the verdict and respond to any unrest. Speaking in Barishal after a meeting with field officials, he said overall security had been tightened “to prevent any untoward incident”.

Additional police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel have been deployed in Dhaka, Nara-yanganj, Gazipur, Faridpur, Gopalganj, Madaripur and several other districts. BGB spokesperson Shari-ful Islam confirmed that patrols were already underway. The Home Ministry said the deployment was a precautionary measure ahead of the verdict.

 Meanwhile, the Supreme Court authorities have sent a letter to the Army Headquarters requesting deployment of troops to strengthen security around the ICT.

Moajjem Hussain, spokesperson for the Supreme Court, confirmed the matter to the media. He said that the letter was dispatched on Sunday.

July massacre: Gavel falls today on Hasina as death penalty soughtThe tribunal heard 28 working days of testimony and cross-examination involving 54 witnesses.

In their closing arguments on 23 October, Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman and ICT Chief Prosecutor Advocate Muhammad Tajul Islam cited international precedents of leaders tried for crimes against humanity, reiterating that they expected the death penalty for Hasina and Kamal.

Political parties have also called for exemplary punishment. BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir urged the authorities to ensure “full justice”, writing on his verified Facebook page, “We de-mand full justice! Bangladesh deserves a transparent and fair trial.”

State-appointed defence lawyer Advocate Md Amir Hossain represented the absconding Hasina and Kamal, who are being tried in absentia.

According to the United Nations, more than 1,400 people were killed in the final days of the Hasina-led Awami League regime, with the bloodshed concentrated between 16 July and 5 August 2024.

Beyond the current case, Hasina and several serving and former Army officers also face two other ICT cases involving enforced disappearances under Awami League rule.

Another case, linked to the 2013 killing of Hefazat protesters at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel, remains pending; investigators are due to submit the probe report on 12 January.

The reporter can be reached at: [email protected]

Edited by M Munir Hossain