Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal–1 (ICT-1) observed that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had a “meticulous plan” and that “everything was under [her] control” during the July mass uprising, remarks made on Monday while hearing defence arguments in a crimes-against-humanity case against Hasina and two others.
The three-judge bench—headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumdar with Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Judge Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury—made the comments as state-appointed defence counsel Md Amir Hossain began the first day of closing arguments for fugitive accused Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan.
Arguing that the anti-discrimination student movement followed a “flawed process,” Hossain said Hasina had abolished the quota system and that its subsequent reinstatement came through a High Court writ beyond executive influence. The bench countered that failure by the executive to actively cooperate with the court can itself amount to influence, noting how hearings were set “in a day or two,” before adding: “You had a meticulous plan and everything was under your control.”
When the lawyer asked for documentary proof of any prime-ministerial interference, the tribunal replied that he was free to state she did not intervene. The bench went on to say that “the elements are in the hands of the state,” explaining that while the prosecution cannot proceed without government agencies, the judiciary would not consider the government’s position at the moment of judgment. “The state has many ‘switches’ that can be turned off—security, power, even the ability of counsel to appear,” the judges remarked. “After all arrangements are ensured, then we will not care about the government.”
On the prosecution’s allegation of targeted persecution during the uprising, Hossain argued it did not occur, citing claims that aside from organiser Abu Sayeed, no other named leaders died despite reports of wider casualties. The tribunal responded that “targeted” does not mean killing everyone, pointing to 1971 as an example where top leaders were not killed, and stressing that perpetrators choose whom to attack, how much, where and when.
The defence summations will continue before the tribunal sets a schedule for the next phase of proceedings.