The International Crimes Tribunal-1 said it will deliver verdict in the case against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and two of her top aides on November 17.
Tribunal Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder fixed the date today in the case over crimes against humanity during the July uprising last year, amid tight security.
Former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who later became an approver, have also been accused of committing crimes during the July Uprising last year.
The trial proceedings of the case concluded on October 23.
Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam submitted the complaint to the tribunal on June 1, detailing five specific counts.
Security has been tightened in and around the ICT ahead of the verdict date announcement. Police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and Armed Police Battalion (APBn) personnel have been deployed in the court area, while army patrols were also observed.
Following is a list of the five charges against the three accused in the case:
Count 1 accused the defendants of murder, attempted murder, torture, and other inhumane acts. They were accused of abetting, inciting, facilitating, being complicit in, and failing to prevent these crimes committed against civilians by law enforcement and armed cadres of the Awami League and its affiliates.
This count specified that following Hasina's July 14 press briefing, former home minister Asaduzzaman, former IGP Mamun, and other high officials of the then government abetted, assisted, and were complicit in the severe and systematic attack on innocent, unarmed student masses.
In count 2, Hasina is accused of ordering the extermination of student protesters through the use of helicopters, drones, and lethal weapons. The prosecution alleged that the then-home minister and the then-IGP facilitated and executed this directive by instructing law enforcement personnel under their authority.
This count charged the defendants with ordering, facilitating, being complicit in, and conspiring to commit crimes against humanity knowingly.
Count 3 accused the defendants of the murder of Abu Sayed, a protesting student, near Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur.
Hasina is accused of making inflammatory remarks and ordering the use of deadly weapons against protesting students.
In response to this directive, Asaduzzaman and Mamun, along with other senior government officials at the time, allegedly instigated, aided, and were complicit in the actions of their subordinate law enforcement personnel and armed Awami League cadres.
As part of the widespread and systematic attack on unarmed student protesters, on July 16 last year, law enforcement officers fired multiple rounds at close range into the chest of student protester Abu Sayed without provocation.
The prosecution alleged that the defendants ordered, incited, abetted, facilitated, were complicit in, conspired, and committed other inhuman acts, constituting crimes against humanity.
Count 4 accused the defendants of the shooting and murder of six unarmed protesters in Dhaka's Chankharpul on August 5 last year.
Hasina is accused of making inflammatory remarks and ordering the use of deadly weapons against student protesters. In response to this directive, the former home minister and former IGP, along with other senior government officials at the time, allegedly instigated, aided, and were complicit in the actions carried out by their subordinate law enforcement personnel and armed Awami League cadres.
The prosecution asserted that the shooting and killing of six unarmed protesters in Chankharpul was carried out knowingly under the defendants' orders, incitement, abetment, facilitation, complicity, and conspiracy, constituting crimes against humanity.
In count 5, the defendants are accused of the shooting of six student protesters -- five of whom were later burned after death, while the sixth was reportedly set on fire while still alive -- in Ashulia on August 5 last year.
Hasina is accused of making inflammatory remarks and ordering the use of deadly weapons against student protesters. Following this directive, the defendants, along with other senior government officials at the time, allegedly instigated, facilitated, and were complicit in the actions carried out by their subordinate law enforcement personnel and armed Awami League cadres.
The prosecution asserted that this act was carried out knowingly under the defendants' orders, incitement, abetment, facilitation, complicity, and conspiracy, constituting crimes against humanity, including other inhumane acts such as torture and murder.