Bangladesh's tribunal indicts deposed PM Hasina over killing of protesters

A special tribunal in Bangladesh on Thursday indicted deposed premier Sheikh Hasina in absentia on charges of crimes against humanity in connection with a deadly crackdown on protesters during the JulyAugust uprising last yearThe International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh ICTBD has set August 3 as the date for the trialThe tribunal has framed the charge against her Hasina alongside the home minister of her regime Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and the then inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun a prosecution lawyer told reportersThe ICT bench headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder passed the order after rejecting a defence plea to dismiss the charges The other two members of the tribunal are Justices Md Shofiul Alam Mahmood and Md Mohitul Haq Enam ChowdhuryThe prosecutors said Hasina along with the coaccused was indicted on five charges including mass killings murder and torture to tame the protestors during last years JulyAugust uprisingIf proven guilty the accused could face the death penaltyAccording to a UN rights office report up to 1400 people were killed between July 15 and August 15 last year as Hasinas government ordered a security crackdown on protestersWith Thursdays order the formal trial against 72yearold Hasina and other defendants in the case for crimes against humanity has begun for the first timeHasina faces multiple cases in Bangladesh after being ousted on August 5 last year following a mass studentled agitation in the country which forced her to flee DhakaMamun the only accused appearing in person pleaded guilty when produced before the tribunal from custody prosecutors addedDuring the indictment hearing the former police chief expressed his willingness to make a statement in the prosecutions favour at a later stage The presiding judge said the tribunal would later decide whether to treat him as an approverMamuns lawyer told journalists that the expolice chief agreed to become a state witness confessing his role during the violent movementThe ICTBDs investigation agency on May 12 filed its report in the case bringing five charges against the trioThe prosecution said the charges include the delivery of a provocative speech by Hasina at a press briefing on July 14 2024 issuing a directive to eliminate the July Movement protesters with the use of helicopters drones and lethal weapons by law enforcement agenciesThe three were also accused of issuing directives to law enforcers collaborating with the Awami League and plotting to kill innocent students and people on August 5 last year in Dhakas Chankharpul and Ashulia areas as part of a broader plan to eliminate the protesters to suppress the movementThe ICTBD was originally formed during the Awami League regime in 2010 to try the hardened collaborators of Pakistani troops during Bangladeshs 1971 Liberation War on charges of crimes against humanityMuhammad Yunuss interim government decided to try Hasina in the same court on identical chargesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever