Staff Reporter :
International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam has reiterated that death-row convicts Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal cannot appeal their sentences while remaining fugitives, and that their right to appeal will only activate if they surrender on Bangladeshi soil.
“The convicted individuals may file an appeal with the Supreme Court within 30 days if they wish. But fugitives have no legal right to appeal.
To do so, they must return to Bangladesh, surrender, and be taken into custody. Only then can they challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court.
Without surrender, they forfeit their right to appeal,” Tajul told reporters after the verdict was delivered on Monday.
The Chief Prosecutor said, this verdict is very much desired and same verdict must be delivered in such case in anywhere in the globe.
He further noted, “If they abide by the law and surrender as directed, they will have the opportunity to place arguments and evidence before the Supreme Court to attempt to establish their innocence. The judicial process will then move forward accordingly.”
The ICT sentenced former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death for crimes against humanity linked to last year’s July Uprising.
A third accused, former inspector general of police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, avoided the death penalty and received a five-year imprisonment sentence after agreeing to testify as a state witness.
Hasina fled to India on 5 August last year amid the mass uprising and has been living there since.
Former home minister Kamal is also currently residing in India.
Following the verdict, Dhaka formally asked New Delhi to immediately extradite fugitives Hasina and Kamal, emphasising that such cooperation is India’s obligation under existing bilateral treaties.
