Dhaka: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for February 25 regarding an appeal filed by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) prosecution. The appeal seeks to enhance the sentences of Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal from imprisonment till natural death to the death penalty in a crimes against humanity case related to the July Mass Uprising.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Justice Md Rezaul Haque of the Appellate Division, sitting in Chamber, set the hearing date and forwarded the matter to the full bench of the apex court for further proceedings. ICT Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam participated in the hearing at the apex court.
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) had previously convicted and sentenced ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death on November 17. They were found guilty under the doctrine of superior command responsibility for crimes against humanity committed during the July Mass Uprising. The tribunal sentenced both individuals to imprisonment till natural death on three counts of charge number one and to death on three counts of charge number two.
The prosecution has since filed a petition requesting the enhancement of their sentences from imprisonment till natural death to the death penalty under charge number one on eight different grounds.