At a glance | Chief Prosecutor vs. Sheikh Hasina & Others | ICT BD

At a glance | Chief Prosecutor vs. Sheikh Hasina & Others | ICT BD

Chief Prosecutor vs. Sheikh Hasina and Others (ICT BD Case No. 02 of 2025)

ACCUSED PERSONS

  1. Sheikh Hasina, Former Prime Minister
  2. Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Former Minister of Home Affairs
  3. Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, Former Inspector General of Police (IGP)

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

  • Receipt of Complaint and Commencement of Investigation: 14 August 2024
  • Filing of Miscellaneous Case: Misc. Case No. 02/2024, dated 16 October 2024
  • Issuance of Arrest Warrants:
    • Warrant against the accused Sheikh Hasina on 16 October 2024
    • Warrant against the accused Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun on 17 October 2024
  • Arrest Shown: Former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun was shown arrested on 16 March 2025
  • Submission of Investigation Report: 12 May 2025
  • Submission of Formal Charge: 01 June 2025

EVIDENCE & WITNESSES

  • A total of 14 volumes comprising approximately 10,000 pages of documentary evidence were submitted with the formal charge.
  • These materials include newspapers, domestic and international investigative reports, government gazettes listing martyrs and injured persons, books and commemorative publications, location-specific lists of casualties, compilations of slogans and graffiti, books reproducing front pages of newspapers published during the uprising, medical certificates of martyrs and the injured, post-mortem and inquest reports, general diaries and reports detailing the use of weapons and ammunition, helicopter flight schedules, and related records.
  • A total of 93 documentary exhibits were tendered before the Tribunal.
  • Additionally, 32 material exhibits, including bullets, pellets, blood-stained clothing, DVDs, pen drives, books, and other physical evidence, were produced before the Tribunal.
  • Depositions of 84 witnesses were submitted, among whom 54 appeared in person and testified before the Tribunal.
  • Witness Categories: Victims; injured persons; families of martyrs; eyewitnesses; medical practitioners; seizure-list witnesses; post-mortem physicians; journalists who captured video footage; protest participants; journalists; accused persons who provided confessional statements; eyewitnesses; forensic specialists; ballistics experts; contextual and historical analysts; movement coordinators; victims of enforced disappearance; police personnel; wireless operators; library staff of the investigating agency; special investigators; and investigating officers.

TIMELINE OF THE CASE

  • Issuance of Arrest Warrant (Initiation of Proceedings in ICT BD Case No. 2/2025): 01 June 2025
  • Publication of Notice in Newspapers for Absconding Accused: 17 June 2025 (Published in Daily Amar Desh and New Age)
  • Appointment of State Defence Counsel: 24 June 2025
  • Commencement of Charge Hearing: 01 July 2025
  • Framing of Charge: 10 July 2025 (Accused No. 3, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, entered a plea of guilt)
  • Prosecution Opening Statement: 03 August 2025
  • Commencement of Examination of Witnesses: 3 August 2025 (First Witness: Victim Khokon Chandra Bormon)
  • Conclusion of Examination of Witnesses: 08 October 2025 (Last Witness: Investigating Officer Md. Alamgir)
  • Total Witnesses Examined: 54
  • Commencement of Final Arguments: 12 October 2025
  • Closing Speech by the Hon’ble Attorney General: 23 October 2025
  • Case Reserved for Judgment: 23 October 2025
  • Date for Fixing Judgment Pronouncement Scheduled: 13 November 2025
  • Tentative Date of Judgment: 17 November 2025

CHARGES SUBMITTED BY PROSECUTION

CHARGE NO. 1

On 14 July 2024, at a press conference held at Ganabhaban, Sheikh Hasina made an inflammatory statement referring to the anti-discrimination student protesters as “children of Razakars, grandchildren of Razakars.” Subsequently, several leaders, including Obaidul Quader, made further inciting remarks in support of her statement. These remarks allegedly provoked widespread student protests, during which armed cadres of the Chhatra League, Awami League, and affiliated organizations carried out attacks and acts of torture upon the protesters.

Related Evidence

  1. Original video recording of Sheikh Hasina’s 14 July 2024 Ganabhaban press conference, obtained from BTV.
  2. Videos and newspaper reports containing the inciting remarks made by Obaidul Quader and other influential Awami League leaders supporting Sheikh Hasina’s statement.
  3. Independent investigative reports detailing torture and repression allegedly carried out by the Awami League on protesting students at Dhaka University, Chittagong University, Rajshahi University, and Begum Rokeya University.
  4. Newspaper and video reports documenting homicide and torture across the country following the above-mentioned statements.
  5. Oral testimony from witnesses describing nationwide protests triggered by the statements of Sheikh Hasina and other Awami League leaders, and the subsequent repression inflicted upon student protesters.

CHARGE NO. 2

Count 1

On the night of 14 July 2024, in a mobile phone conversation with then Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University, Maksud Kamal, accused Sheikh Hasina allegedly labeled the protesters as Razakars and instructed that they be hanged—i.e., killed.

Count 2

On 18 July 2024, during a conversation with Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Sheikh Hasina allegedly instructed the use of lethal weapons to kill student protesters and members of the public. She further directed the use of drones to identify protester locations and ordered firing from helicopters. She also allegedly instructed that important government installations be set on fire and the blame placed on the public.

Count 3

In two conversations between Sheikh Hasina and Hasanul Haq Inu, she allegedly ordered aerial bombing from helicopters to suppress the protest movement, the preparation of lists for detention and torture of protesters, and that protesters be labeled as BNP-Jamaat members and militants.

Relevant Evidence

  1. Voice recordings obtained from the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) by the investigating officer.
  2. Forensic analysis report and transcripts of the said recordings.
  3. List of martyrs of the July uprising published by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs.
  4. Gazette listing injured persons.
  5. Ten-volume compilation of martyrs titled Those Who Became Martyrs in the Second Independence, published by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
  6. Bullets and pellets extracted from the bodies of martyrs and injured persons from various hospitals.
  7. Mobile-recorded video footage and photographs captured by eyewitness participants in the uprising.
  8. Videos and photographs published in mass media and social media.
  9. Newspapers published during the uprising.
  10. Newspapers containing post-uprising interviews of injured persons and families of martyrs.
  11. Report of the United Nations Commission mentioning the deaths of 1,400 persons and referencing the involvement of Sheikh Hasina.
  12. BBC report confirming, through their own technology, the authenticity of Sheikh Hasina’s voice giving instructions regarding the use of lethal force, and confirming evidence of force being used during the July uprising.
  13. Al Jazeera report.
  14. Human Rights Watch report.
  15. Video documentary prepared by the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP).
  16. Oral testimony from medical practitioners treating the blind, maimed, obstructed-from-treatment, injured and deceased; families of martyrs; injured participants; and expert witnesses.
  17. Reports from Police Headquarters and DMP indicating that approximately 350,000 rounds of ammunition were used by law-enforcement during the movement.
  18. Helicopter flight schedules provided by the Air Force showing helicopter usage during the movement.
  19. Government order imposing curfew and news reports concerning “shoot-on-sight” directives.

CHARGE NO. 3

The alleged killing of Abu Sayeed, coordinator of the student movement at Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, on 16 July 2024, by gunfire.

Related Evidence

  1. Video of the 14 July 2024 press conference at Ganabhaban.
  2. The 14 July 2024-night conversation between Sheikh Hasina and Maksud Kamal containing alleged instructions to hang—i.e., kill—the protesters.
  3. NTV’s live video recorded at the time of the killing of Abu Sayeed, along with the master copy provided by NTV.
  4. Five post-mortem reports of Abu Sayeed, which were allegedly altered four times at the direction of police.
  5. Documents relating to fabricated false cases allegedly filed in connection with the killing.
  6. Oral testimony of Abu Sayeed’s family members, the doctor who conducted the post-mortem, the NTV journalist who recorded the incident, university students, fellow protesters, eyewitnesses, and participating police personnel.

CHARGE NO. 4

The alleged killing of six persons by police firing in the Chankharpul area of Dhaka on 5 August 2024.

Relevant Evidence

  1. Video footage of indiscriminate police firing on students and the general public in the Chankharpul area, with the master copy obtained from RTV.
  2. Social media video showing the shooting of martyr Anas.
  3. A letter written by martyr Anas addressed to his mother.
  4. Video of Anas being transported to the hospital by rickshaw after being shot.
  5. Video showing Yakub being lifted onto a rickshaw after being shot.
  6. Videos recorded from nearby buildings showing police firing and the injured being carried away.
  7. BTV documentary titled July Onirban.
  8. Oral testimonies from family members of the martyrs, police personnel who did not fire despite receiving orders, and eyewitnesses.

CHARGE NO. 5

The alleged killing of six persons by police in the Ashulia Thana area on 5 August 2024, followed by the burning of their bodies.

Relevant Evidence

  1. Mobile-recorded video of police firing lethal weapons at student protesters in Ashulia.
  2. Video showing the six bodies being thrown onto a paddle van and covered with cloth.
  3. Photographs of the charred bodies after the bodies were allegedly burned inside a police van.
  4. Oral testimony from families of the deceased, along with photographs and videos they submitted.
  5. Oral testimony from police personnel present at the scene.

JUDGMENT BY THE TRIBUNAL

The International Crimes Tribunal-1, in its judgment pronounced on 17 November 2025, convicted Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal for Crimes against Humanity under the applicable provisions of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973, and inflicted Sentence of Death on certain counts, and imprisonment till natural death in certain counts.

The Accused Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, former IGP of police, was sentenced to an imprisonment of 5 years.

The Tribunal also directed the Government to confiscate the personal assets of convicted Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal for the purpose of payment of compensation to the victims of July Movement 2024.

Details of the judgment is available in the full judgment.

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS

DateIssuance of an arrest warrant against accused Sheikh Hasina.
14 August 2024Receipt of complaint and commencement of investigation.
16 October 2024Filing of Miscellaneous Case No. 02/2024.
16 October 2024Issuance of arrest warrants against the remaining accused persons.
17 October 2024Accused Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun is shown arrested.
16 March 2025Submission of the Investigation Report before the Tribunal.
12 May 2025Submission of Investigation Report before the Tribunal.
01 June 2025Tribunal fixes the date for the pronouncement of judgment on 17 November
17 June 2025Tribunal directs publication of notice for absconding accused (published in Daily Amar Desh and New Age).
24 June 2025Appointment of State Defence Counsel.
01 July 2025Charge-hearing commences.
10 July 2025Charges formally framed; Accused No. 3 (Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun) enters plea of guilt.
03 August 2025Prosecution tendering of Opening Statement.
03 August 2025Commencement of examination-in-chief of prosecution witnesses.
08 October 2025Completion of prosecution’s evidence; examination of witnesses concluded (total of 54 witnesses examined).
12 October 2025Commencement of final arguments.
23 October 2025Closing Speech delivered by the Hon’ble Attorney General.
23 October 2025Proceedings declared closed; matter reserved for judgment.
13 November 2025Tribunal fixes the date for pronouncement of judgment on 17 November
17 November 2025Delivery of judgment. Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal is sentenced with Death; Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun is sentenced with an imprisonment of 5 years.

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