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Security bulwarks are built around the International Crimes Tribunal-1 in Dhaka which is set to deliver live its verdict today in the first uprising-time crimes-against-humanity case against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two of her top aides.
As tensions brew up amid some acts of violence believed stemming from protests by Hasina's party adherents in the wilderness, Bangladesh Supreme Court Sunday requisitioned army deployment to beef up security around the ICT-1 housed on the SC premises, sources said.
A three-member bench of the tribunal, headed by its Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, will pronounce the judgment in the case of crimes against humanity committed during the July-August 2024 mass uprising.
The prosecution has sought the highest punishment--the death penalty--for Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. Former inspector-general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who later became an approver, has also been accused in the case.
Pronouncement of the verdict will be broadcast live, says ICT Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim.
During a briefing on the ICT premises on Sunday morning, Mr Tamim said, "The portion of the verdict that the tribunal will read out tomorrow will be broadcast live on Bangladesh Television, subject to the tribunal's approval. All other media outlets in the country will also be able to air the broadcast through Bangladesh Television."
He further said the prosecution had requested the International Crimes Tribunal-1 for confiscating the assets of Sheikh Hasina and her two top aides for distributing among victim families if the accused are convicted in the case.
"A life lost can never be compensated, but financial restitution can partially support families. As the law permits, we sought confiscation of the accused's assets. Whatever order the tribunal delivers in the interest of justice will be accepted by the prosecution," says Tamim.
The prosecution believes it has proven all five charges brought in the case "beyond reasonable doubt".
Earlier on November 13, the tribunal set November 17 for delivering its verdict in the case filed on charges of crime against humanity committed during the uprising.
On June 1 this year, the Prosecution submitted the formal charge to the tribunal, detailing five specific crimes against humanity, including superior- command responsibility.
In all five charges, the accused are charged with crimes against humanity, including murder, attempted murder, widespread and systematic killings, incitement, provocation, aiding and abetting, conspiracy, other inhumane acts, and failure to prevent the commission of these crimes.
Provocative speech of Sheikh Hasina given at a press conference on July 14 last year at the Gonobhaban, direction for use of helicopters, drones and lethal weapons during the student-led quota movement, and implementation of that direction by the sub-ordinates of former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Manmun have been included in the charges.
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