The International Crimes Tribunal has ordered the execution of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal by hanging in a case of crimes against humanity for the genocide committed in July-August 2014.

At the same time, former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who pleaded guilty and testified against the former Prime Minister and Home Minister in the tribunal as a public witness, has been sentenced to 5 years in prison.

This is the first case filed at the International Crimes Tribunal regarding crimes against humanity, including murders during the mass uprising, and the verdict was delivered today.

On Monday (November 17), at around 12:40 pm, the first part of the 453-page verdict in six chapters was read by judicial panel member Judge Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury. The other member of the three-member judicial panel led by Tribunal-1 Chairman Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder is Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud.

After reading the short verdict for 2 hours and 10 minutes, the tribunal announced the verdict at 2:50 pm . The main verdict was announced by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder.

Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Abu Sayeed under formal charge-1, including incitement, ordering the use of deadly weapons, drones, and helicopters. At the same time, the tribunal sentenced Sheikh Hasina to death under formal charge-2 for the murder of six people in Chankharpul and the burning of six bodies in Ashulia.

In addition, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal was sentenced to death for the formal charge-2 or the six murders in Chankharpul and the burning of six bodies in Ashulia. Mamun was sentenced to five years in prison for giving a statement as a royal witness. He was also guilty of the same crime. However, the tribunal was lenient towards him because he voluntarily and told the truth.

The tribunal has also ordered the confiscation of all assets of Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.

Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal are absconding in this case. And former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun has been in jail for almost a year after being arrested. He testified against the former Prime Minister and Home Minister in the tribunal as a witness. As a result, the prosecution left the punishment of the former IGP to the tribunal. The tribunal sentenced him to 5 years in prison.

At 9:10 am on Monday, the police brought former IGP Mamun to the tribunal in a prison van from the prison under tight security. He entered the tribunal's cell with his head bowed.

Meanwhile, security arrangements were increased in the Tribunal and Supreme Court areas in the wake of Sheikh Hasina's verdict. Along with the police-RAB, APBN-BGB, the army was also deployed. Members of intelligence agencies were also seen on the scene. In the interest of security, law enforcement agencies closed traffic on the road leading to Shiksha Bhaban from Doel Chattar since Sunday evening (November 16). Public movement was also restricted.

The verdict in the case was set for today on November 13. A three-member judicial panel led by Tribunal-1 Chairman Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder set the date.

In this case, the testimony and examination of 54 witnesses were completed in a total of 28 working days. The arguments and rebuttals of the prosecution and state defense lasted for 9 working days. On October 23, the closing statement of the state's chief legal officer, Attorney General Md. Asaduzzaman, and the rebuttals of Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam and state-appointed lawyer Amir Hossain were given time to set the date for the verdict.

The prosecution is seeking the maximum sentence for Sheikh Hasina and Kamal, but the decision on Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, one of the accused in the case, as he is a royal witness, is left to the tribunal's discretion.

The prosecution has brought five charges of crimes against humanity against the three accused in this case. These include incitement, use of deadly weapons, killing of Abu Sayeed, killing in Chankharpul and burning of bodies in Ashulia. The formal charges total 8,747 pages. Of this, 2,018 pages are references, 4,05 pages are seized and documentary evidence, and 2,724 pages are martyrs' lists. 84 people have been called as witnesses. The investigation agency of the tribunal submitted the report of the case to the Chief Prosecutor on May 12.