European Rights Groups Condemn ICT Verdict Against Sheikh Hasina

Dhaka: Five major European rights and advocacy organisations have strongly criticised the recent verdict issued by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, calling it a “politically motivated” ruling and urging urgent international intervention, according to local media reports on Wednesday.

A coalition of London-based groups released a joint statement expressing “deep concern” over the tribunal’s judgment delivered under Bangladesh’s interim government. The coalition has sent letters to several global institutions, including the UN Secretary-General, the UN Human Rights Chief, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the European External Action Service, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the US State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, the International Bar Association, and multiple UN special rapporteurs, the *Dhaka Tribune* reported.

In their statement, the organisations said the ICT — originally established to investigate crimes committed during the 1971 Liberation War — has “strayed from its foundational principles.” They condemned the recent trials held in absentia, arguing that such practices compromise judicial independence and violate international human rights norms.

The groups also raised concerns about the judiciary’s ability to operate independently, questioned the constitutional legitimacy of the proceedings, and flagged rushed trials, lack of adequate legal defence, scarcity of defence witnesses, and signs of political collusion.

The criticism follows the ICT’s Monday ruling, which sentenced Sheikh Hasina to death after finding her guilty of “crimes against humanity” linked to demonstrations in July last year. Two of her close aides were also convicted: former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal received a death sentence, while former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who testified for the prosecution, was sentenced to five years in prison.

Sheikh Hasina has rejected all allegations, calling the tribunal “rigged” and accusing the interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus of lacking democratic legitimacy. She described the verdict as “biased” and “politically driven.”

In a sharply worded statement, Hasina said:
“In their distasteful call for the death penalty, they reveal the brazen and murderous intent of extremist figures within the interim government to remove Bangladesh’s last elected prime minister and to nullify the Awami League as a political force.”

She added that millions of Bangladeshis “will not be fooled” by what she described as a deliberate attempt to distract from the Yunus administration’s failures.

Condemning the interim government further, Hasina alleged that under Yunus’ leadership, public services have deteriorated, law enforcement has weakened, and judicial fairness has eroded. She also accused the administration of allowing attacks on Awami League supporters to go unpunished, enabling persecution of minorities, suppressing women’s rights, and giving space to Islamic extremist elements, including members of Hizb-ut-Tahrir.

She also criticised the government’s treatment of journalists and the economy, saying growth has stalled, elections have been delayed, and the Awami League — Bangladesh’s oldest political party — has been banned from participating.

--With inputs from IANS