Hasina rejects Bangladesh tribunal verdict as ‘fake, fabricated’, vows to fight back: Report – Firstpost

As Bangladesh’s International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) has sentenced the country’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death, sources close to her believe the ousted prime minister will “fight the verdict”. Sources close to Hasina told cnn-news18 The decision is “not based on legal grounds”.

The source criticized the court, calling the allegations “bogus and fabricated”. “There is no evidence on record and we are seeking verification of the evidence,” the source said. cnn-news18The source said that “the country has been pushed towards complete radicalisation”,

Commenting on Bangladesh’s interim chief advisor Muhammad Yunus, the source said, “Yunus is a puppet and is acting accordingly.” The source further said, “Hasina will fight the decision and go back.”

Death sentence to Hasina

In a historic verdict on Monday, former Prime Minister Hasina was sentenced to death by the ICTY after being found guilty of committing crimes against humanity. Hasina was convicted on three out of five charges: inciting violence, ordering the killing and inaction over the July protests, which turned violent.

Apart from Hasina, former Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal was also sentenced to death. Meanwhile, former Inspector General of Police Chaudhry Abdullah al-Mamun, who later turned government witness, was given leniency and received a five-year prison sentence.

All the convicts will now have 30 days to appeal against the verdict in the Bangladesh Supreme Court. However, he will have to return to Bangladesh and surrender before the authorities to appeal this. After the appeal is made, the Supreme Court will have 60 days to uphold or overturn the ICTY’s decision.

Awami rejected the decision

In a formal statement, Hasina’s Awami League formally rejected the tribunal’s decision and called for a “nationwide shutdown”. This statement was given by former Textiles and Jute Minister and Awami League Presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak.

Nanak described the ICT as a “kangaroo court”, calling the trial and verdict a “farce”. He said that the party will continue to struggle until the Yunus regime is removed.

BNP celebrated the move

In its first reaction to the verdict, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) “welcomed the decision of the Criminal Tribunal”. Speaking to CNN-News18, BNP member Shama Obaid said, “Facts and evidence were already present in the case.”

He claimed that the United Nations had produced a “detailed fact-finding report”. Accusing the former prime minister of running a racket, he said, “Everyone knows where the orders came from. There was bloodshed for two months. Bangladesh needs a bandh. The bandh will happen only when the families of the victims are at peace.”