Bangladesh attorney general hails ‘landmark’ tribunal verdict against ex-PM Hasina

The International Crimes Tribunal verdict in the crimes against humanity case against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and two others stands as a landmark one for future generations, says Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman.

He shared his reaction with the media at the court premises after the verdict was announced on Monday, reports bdnews24.com.

He said, "We believe that this verdict is a landmark ruling to ensure accountability towards the martyrs, towards the country, towards the people of this country, towards democracy, towards the Constitution, towards the rule of law, and towards the future generations."

"This verdict will bring peace. This is a message for the future. This verdict will be a milestone for justice and the rule of law in Bangladesh. This is our belief."

When asked about the sentencing of the accused, the attorney general said: "Two of the accused in this case have been given the maximum sentence of the death penalty. One of the accused turned state witness. The court gave him five years in prison after taking the overall situation into account."

‘‘You have heard the complaints they were punished for. The court punished her (Hasina) after drafting five complaints on three counts. In one count, Hasina has been given life imprisonment until natural death over superior command responsibility. And for the direct order she gave, the court gave her the death penalty.”

Asked when the verdict would be carried out, he said: “According to the law, the verdict will be executed from the day she is arrested.”

When asked how the state would attempt to bring Hasina back from India, the attorney general said: “The state will do whatever is possible according to the law.”

Asaduzzaman said the court has given an order in the case to pay compensation to the families of the martyrs in the July Uprising.

When asked if the convicts could appeal the decision, the attorney general said: “As far as I know, not only in Bangladesh, but also everywhere around the world, no absconding convicts have the opportunity to appeal a case.”