Bangladesh Tribunal Sets Hasina Verdict for Nov. 17

Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal announced on Thursday that it will deliver its verdict on November 17 against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two former officials in a case involving crimes against humanity during last year's student-led uprising. The three-judge panel, chaired by Justice Mohammad Golam Mortuza Majumder, set the date during a session in Dhaka, where security was tightened amid nationwide tensions.

Hasina, who fled to India after her ouster on August 5, 2024, and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal are being tried in absentia after the court declared them fugitives. Former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun attended the proceedings in person but served as an approver, pleading guilty and testifying about the roles of Hasina and Kamal in suppressing the protests known as the July Uprising. Prosecutors, led by Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam, have sought the death penalty for Hasina, accusing her of ordering the use of deadly force against demonstrators. The charges include murder, attempted murder, torture, and inhumane acts, specifically the shooting and killing of at least six unarmed protesters in Dhaka and its...