A significant development in the cases against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is anticipated by October, according to Legal Advisor Dr. Asif Nazrul.
He informed reporters today at the Secretariat that three to four cases against Sheikh Hasina, currently being heard in the International Crimes Tribunal, are expected to reach a verdict by then.
Alongside Sheikh Hasina, several top Awami League leaders and some police officers have also been named as defendants in these cases.
Dr. Nazrul stated,
“The International Crimes Tribunal has received 300 allegations related to the July genocide, and the prosecution has filed 16 cases in total. Investigations into four of these cases will conclude this month, and after that, the formal trial will begin following a review. It will take around three weeks for the trial process to start, and once testimonies are gathered, we expect verdicts by October in at least three to four cases where Sheikh Hasina and others are accused.”
In addition to this, Dr. Nazrul shared updates regarding the cases under the Cyber Security Act.
He said, “Out of 396 cases related to freedom of expression, 332 have already been withdrawn, and the remaining 61 are likely to be withdrawn by February. However, three cases are still under review by the higher courts, so they cannot be withdrawn just yet.”
He further added details about the ‘phantom’ cases filed during the previous Awami League government.
“Among the 16,429 ‘phantom’ cases from that period, 1,214 will be withdrawn within the next week, including 53 cases that will be cleared by tomorrow.”
Dr. Nazrul also commented on the ongoing efforts to arrest Sheikh Hasina.
“A red alert request has been submitted to Interpol to detain Sheikh Hasina, and they are expected to take action. However, India’s stance on the matter does not appear favorable. It seems unlikely they will return her, and instead, India may want to use this issue to stir unrest.”
Addressing rumors about potential civil unrest, Dr. Nazrul remarked,
“The Awami League has been spreading false propaganda regarding civil war. Such claims should not be taken seriously. Intelligence reports indicate that some Awami League members might be involved in conspiracies or crimes, which is why the Ministry of Home Affairs has initiated ‘Operation Devil Hunt.’ This operation is being carried out with extreme caution to avoid any loss of life.”
The situation remains tense, and all eyes are now on the progress of these high-profile cases, particularly the potential impact on the political landscape ahead of the tribunal’s anticipated verdicts.
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