Tensions rise in Dhaka as Bangladesh Supreme Court’s Appellate Division fixes January 20 to deliberate converting life sentences of ex-PM Sheikh Hasina and aide Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal into death penalties for crimes against humanity during July’s upheaval. ICT chief prosecutor’s appeal drives this critical juncture.
Justice MD Rezaul Haq’s Thursday directive in chamber proceedings sets the stage, after prioritizing the plea listed at item 58. Filed December 15, the challenge targets lighter sentences from the November 17 ICT-1 decision—one death, one life per major uprising charges.
Ghazi MH Tamim, the driving force, has passionately advocated in briefings: eight reasons justify escalation, filed timely within 30 days, aiming for 60-day closure. ‘July’s humanity crimes demand death, not life,’ he declared, recapping the tribunal’s split verdict.
The case encapsulates Bangladesh’s post-revolution justice drive, with Hasina’s ouster still fresh. Prosecutors argue the violence’s enormity warrants maximum retribution, fueling debates on fairness versus vengeance.
Legal circles buzz with anticipation for the hearing’s implications on transitional justice. It could affirm or challenge ICT’s authority, influencing dozens of pending cases against Awami League figures. As stakeholders prepare, January 20 looms as a defining moment in Bangladesh’s quest for reckoning.