ICT may fix verdict date today on Hasina

Staff Reporter :

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is expected to announce an order 23 October to fix the date for delivering its verdict in the crimes against humanity case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.

Senior Prosecutor Mizanul Islam told reporters on Wednesday that both the prosecution and defence have completed their arguments in the case involving the fugitive accused Hasina and Kamal, as well as state witness and former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.
“The prosecution has presented and responded to key arguments. Tomorrow, the chief prosecutor and the attorney general will make their closing statements, following which the tribunal is expected to set the verdict date,” he said.

State-appointed defe-nce counsel Md Amir Hossain wrapped up his arguments at 3:15pm, pleading for Hasina and Kamal’s acquittal and asserting their innocence.

The hearing took place before a three-member bench headed by ICT-1 Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder. During his submission, Hossain disputed the credibility of several witnesses, including state witness Mamun, Daily Amar Desh Editor Mahmudur Rahman, and National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam.

He claimed that Mamun testified under duress, while suggesting that Mahmudur Rahman’s ideological differences with Hasina biased his statements.

Later, Mamun’s counsel, Zayed Bin Amjad, also presented his arguments.
The prosecution panel in the case includes Gazi MH Tamim, Faruk Ahmed, Moinul Karim, and Sultan Mahmud.

Earlier, on 16 October, the prosecution concluded its five-day argument. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam sought the death penalty for Hasina and Kamal, leaving the decision regarding Mamun’s punishment—who testified as a state witness—to the tribunal’s discretion.