Bangladesh Tribunal orders Hasina's trial for July

Dhaka: The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Bangladesh has ordered the trial of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former inspector general of police (IGP) Chaudhry Abdullah al-Mamun to start trial on charges of crimes against humanity from July 1. The order was passed by a three-judge bench headed by Justice Md Golam Murtuza Majumdar on Tuesday. During the hearing, accused Abdullah al-Mamun was presented in the court, while special attention was paid to the absence of Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.

Earlier on June 17, the ICT had published notices in two leading Bangladeshi newspapers directing Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to surrender by June 24. According to the notice, under Section 31 of the International Crimes (Tribunal-1) Rules of Procedure 2010 (as amended), 2025, he is ordered to surrender before the tribunal on June 24. Otherwise, the trial under Section 10A of the 1973 Act will be conducted in his absence. On June 1, the three were charged by the prosecution with heinous offences such as murder, attempt to murder, torture and use of deadly weapons. The court had also issued arrest warrants against Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. Abdullah al-Ma'mun was arrested on the same day.

Sheikh Hasina's Awami League has strongly condemned the proceedings initiated by the tribunal. The party has termed it a "show trial" which is allegedly being conducted by Mohammad Yunus under the leadership of an unelected and undemocratic government. The party has termed all the allegations as baseless and questioned the fairness of the trial. The Awami League says that many officials of the current administration have already publicly convicted Sheikh Hasina, making the fairness of the justice process doubtful.