Bangladesh's special tribunal set to deliver verdict against deposed prime minister Hasina
Dhaka (PTI): A tribunal in Bangladesh is set to deliver its verdict on Monday in a case against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is being tried in absentia, over alleged crimes against humanity committed during last year's student-led agitation that led to the fall of her Awami League government.
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD), which, according to Prosecutor Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim, is expected to sit at 11:00 am, will also deliver its verdict against Hasina's two aides, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, over the same charges.
Prosecutors have sought the death penalty for the accused.
Hasina, 78, faces multiple charges after being ousted in August 2024 following the mass student-led agitation.
A UN rights office report estimated that up to 1,400 people were killed between July 15 and August 15 during what came to be known as the July Uprising, as her government ordered a sweeping security crackdown.
Hasina, Kamal and Mamun were tried before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD). The court declared Hasina and Kamal fugitives and conducted the trial against them in absentia.
Mamun faced trial in person but later appeared as an approver.
Seeking the death penalty for Hasina, Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam had described her as the “mastermind and principal architect” of the alleged atrocities during the protests. Her supporters, however, say the charges are politically motivated.
The tribunal completed hearings on October 23 after 28 working days, during which 54 witnesses deposed, describing the state response to the student-led movement that toppled Hasina’s Awami League government on August 5, 2024.
Hasina fled the country on the same day amid spiralling unrest and has since been residing in India. Kamal is also believed to have taken refuge in India.
The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has sought Hasina’s extradition, but India is yet to respond.
Meanwhile, security has been tightened across Bangladesh ahead of the verdict, with police in the national capital ordered to shoot violent protesters.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali on Sunday evening issued a shoot-at-sight order against anyone involved in arson attacks, cocktail explosions or attempts to harm police and civilians ahead of the ICT-BD verdict.
The now-disbanded Awami League had announced a two-day shutdown ahead of the verdict.
Army troops, Border Guard Bangladesh personnel and riot police have been deployed around the ICT-BD complex. Streets in the capital appeared largely deserted amid fears of violence.
Hasina, Kamal, and Mamun face five counts, including murder, attempted murder, torture and other inhumane acts. Another charge accuses Hasina of ordering the “extermination” of protesters. She is also accused of making inflammatory remarks and ordering the use of deadly weapons against students.
Additional counts relate to the shooting and killing of six unarmed protesters in Dhaka and the surrounding areas.
In recent interviews with international media and the Indian press, Hasina described the tribunal as a “kangaroo court” run by individuals linked to her political rivals.
In a recent emailed interview to PTI, Hasina said she was prepared to stand trial under international supervision “even at the International Criminal Court” in The Hague, alleging that Yunus avoided such a process because an impartial tribunal would acquit her.
The ICT-BD was formed by the past government to try hardened collaborators of the Pakistani troops during Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War.
The Yunus administration later amended the law to try the leaders of the previous regime, including Hasina. Most Awami League leaders and key figures of the past government are either jailed or on the run.
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What is Iran’s 10-point plan? Key demands ahead of US talks in Islamabad
Tehran/Islamabad: Iran has outlined a 10-point plan as the basis for upcoming talks with the United States, expected to begin in Islamabad on April 11, according to a statement from the Iranian Supreme National Security Council.
The plan lays out Tehran’s key political, military and economic demands, and is being seen as a framework for negotiations following the recent escalation in the region.
Strait of Hormuz at the centre
A major focus of the plan is the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. Iran has proposed “controlled passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the Iranian armed forces,” which it says would give the country a unique economic and geopolitical position.
The plan also calls for the “establishment of a safe transit protocol” in the Strait that would guarantee Iran’s dominance under an agreed mechanism.
Call to end conflict
Iran has demanded “the necessity of ending the war against all elements of the axis of resistance,” signalling its expectation that hostilities should stop not only in Iran but also involving allied groups in the region.
US troop withdrawal
Another key demand is the “withdrawal of US combat forces from all bases and deployment points in the region,” indicating Tehran’s long-standing position against American military presence in West Asia.
Sanctions relief and compensation
The plan places strong emphasis on economic measures. It calls for “full payment of Iran’s damages according to estimates,” along with “the lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions and resolutions of the Board of Governors and the Security Council.”
It also seeks “the release of all Iranian assets and properties frozen abroad,” which have been a major point of contention for years.
Binding global guarantee
Finally, Iran has demanded that all these terms be formally recognised through “a binding Security Council resolution,” suggesting it wants international legal backing to ensure enforcement.
What this means
The 10-point plan reflects Iran’s broader push for security guarantees, economic relief and regional influence. The upcoming talks in Islamabad are expected to test how far both sides are willing to negotiate on these demands.
