On November 17, Bangladeshi judges will announce the highly anticipated verdict in the crimes against humanity trial of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who remains a fugitive. This was confirmed by the chief prosecutor on Thursday.
At 78, Hasina has ignored court orders to return from India to face trial for allegedly ordering a violent crackdown in an unsuccessful effort to quell a student-led uprising that led to her ousting.
“Justice will be served in accordance with the law,” stated chief prosecutor Tajul Islam to the media.
“After a long journey, we are now at the final stage. The court will deliver its verdict on the 17th,” he added.
The trial in absentia, which commenced on June 1, included extensive testimonies claiming she commanded mass killings.
The UN reported that up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024 in her failed attempt to retain power.
Prosecutors have charged her with five counts, including failure to prevent murder, constituting crimes against humanity under Bangladeshi law, and are seeking the death penalty if convicted.
“We hope the court will act wisely, quenching the thirst for justice, and that this verdict will conclude crimes against humanity,” Islam remarked.
Hasina has refuted all allegations, labeling her trial a “jurisprudential joke.”
Co-accused are former interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, also a fugitive, and ex-police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who is in custody and has confessed.
As the election approaches in February, tensions are escalating.
Hasina’s banned Awami League called for a nationwide “lockdown” on Thursday, prompting a heavy security presence around the court, with armored vehicles at checkpoints.
A series of crude bomb attacks have occurred in Dhaka this month, targeting government buildings, buses, and Christian sites.
On November 11, a man died when his parked bus was set on fire.
On Wednesday, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry summoned India’s envoy to Dhaka, urging New Delhi to prevent Hasina from speaking to the press.
“Sheltering such a notorious fugitive and giving her a platform to spread hatred is detrimental to fostering a constructive bilateral relationship between the countries,” stated the foreign ministry, as reported by Bangladesh’s state-run BSS news agency.
