Tuesday, 18 November 2025
The Dhaka News

'The trial was transparent, I would have been happy if Sheikh Hasina had been acquitted'

'The trial was transparent, I would have been happy if Sheikh Hasina had been acquitted'

State-appointed lawyer Md. Amir Hossain, representing fugitive former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said, “The trial at the International Crimes Tribunal was fair and transparent. If Sheikh Hasina is acquitted by the tribunal’s verdict, I will be the happiest.”

Lawyer Amir Hossain said these things in response to questions from journalists at the International Crimes Tribunal premises on Monday (November 17).

He said, “I want my client to be acquitted. This is a natural desire. Everyone will want it.”

In response to a question about whether he had tried to contact Sheikh Hasina in any way, he said, “I have not tried. There is no provision to try. They have also not tried to contact me or provided any assistance. It would have been better for me if they had provided some assistance, even covertly, but no one has done that. There is no provision in law either.”

I always hope that my client (Sheikh Hasina) will be acquitted. This is my hope and expectation. This is natural, there must be expectations. I am speaking from the heart. I have been filing a case for so many months for someone, if he is acquitted, then no one will be happier than me.

He also commented that the trial process at the tribunal was conducted well and transparently.

Regarding the royal witness Abdullah Al Mamun, he said, ‘He is not my client. It is not right for me to say anything about him. Because I should only speak on behalf of those for whom I am fighting the case. Why should I speak on behalf of those who are not my accused? It is not right to say this, it is not appropriate.’

The state-appointed lawyer for the accused said, I think the trial was conducted well.

‘Your submission and Sheikh Hasina’s interview coincided in one place. You were saying that she did not order the indiscriminate shooting like this, I saw in the media that she also claimed the same, the prosecutor is saying something different. But the evidence does not say that? In response to such a question, he said, ‘They (the prosecutor) will speak for them. I will speak my mind. This is normal. The honorable tribunal will consider the verdict.’

Meanwhile, several levels of security have been increased in the Tribunal and Supreme Court area in view of Sheikh Hasina’s verdict. Along with the police-RAB, APBN-BGB, the army is deployed. Members of intelligence agencies are also on the alert. For the sake of security, the law enforcement forces have stopped traffic on the road leading to Shiksha Bhaban via Doel Chattar since Sunday evening. Public movement has also been restricted.

Today was fixed as the date for the announcement of the verdict in the case on November 13. A three-member judicial panel led by Tribunal-1 Chairman Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder fixed the date. The remaining members of the tribunal are Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Justice Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.

The testimony and interrogation of 54 witnesses in Sheikh Hasina’s case was completed in a total of 28 working days. The prosecution and state defense arguments and rebuttals continued for another 9 working days. On October 23, the closing statement of the state's chief lawyer, Attorney General Md. Asaduzzaman, and the rebuttal of Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam and state-appointed lawyer Amir Hossain were given time to set the date for the verdict.

In the arguments, the prosecution has sought the maximum sentence for Sheikh Hasina and Kamal. However, since Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, one of the accused in the case, is a witness, the decision is left to the tribunal. However, lawyer Zayed Bin Amjad has sought his acquittal. State-appointed lawyer Amir Hossain firmly believes that Hasina and Kamal will also be acquitted.

The prosecution has brought five charges of crimes against humanity against the three accused in this case. These include incitement, use of deadly weapons, killing Abu Sayeed, killing in Chankharpul, and burning bodies in Ashulia. The formal charges total 8,747 pages. Of these, 2,018 pages are references, 4,05 pages are seized and documentary evidence, and 2,724 pages are martyrs' lists. 84 people have been called as witnesses. The tribunal's investigation agency submitted the report of the case to the Chief Prosecutor on May 12.

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মঙ্গলবার, ১৮ নভেম্বর ২০২৫


'The trial was transparent, I would have been happy if Sheikh Hasina had been acquitted'

Published : ১৭ নভেম্বর ২০২৫

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State-appointed lawyer Md. Amir Hossain, representing fugitive former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said, “The trial at the International Crimes Tribunal was fair and transparent. If Sheikh Hasina is acquitted by the tribunal’s verdict, I will be the happiest.”Lawyer Amir Hossain said these things in response to questions from journalists at the International Crimes Tribunal premises on Monday (November 17).He said, “I want my client to be acquitted. This is a natural desire. Everyone will want it.”In response to a question about whether he had tried to contact Sheikh Hasina in any way, he said, “I have not tried. There is no provision to try. They have also not tried to contact me or provided any assistance. It would have been better for me if they had provided some assistance, even covertly, but no one has done that. There is no provision in law either.”I always hope that my client (Sheikh Hasina) will be acquitted. This is my hope and expectation. This is natural, there must be expectations. I am speaking from the heart. I have been filing a case for so many months for someone, if he is acquitted, then no one will be happier than me.He also commented that the trial process at the tribunal was conducted well and transparently.Regarding the royal witness Abdullah Al Mamun, he said, ‘He is not my client. It is not right for me to say anything about him. Because I should only speak on behalf of those for whom I am fighting the case. Why should I speak on behalf of those who are not my accused? It is not right to say this, it is not appropriate.’The state-appointed lawyer for the accused said, I think the trial was conducted well.‘Your submission and Sheikh Hasina’s interview coincided in one place. You were saying that she did not order the indiscriminate shooting like this, I saw in the media that she also claimed the same, the prosecutor is saying something different. But the evidence does not say that? In response to such a question, he said, ‘They (the prosecutor) will speak for them. I will speak my mind. This is normal. The honorable tribunal will consider the verdict.’Meanwhile, several levels of security have been increased in the Tribunal and Supreme Court area in view of Sheikh Hasina’s verdict. Along with the police-RAB, APBN-BGB, the army is deployed. Members of intelligence agencies are also on the alert. For the sake of security, the law enforcement forces have stopped traffic on the road leading to Shiksha Bhaban via Doel Chattar since Sunday evening. Public movement has also been restricted.Today was fixed as the date for the announcement of the verdict in the case on November 13. A three-member judicial panel led by Tribunal-1 Chairman Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder fixed the date. The remaining members of the tribunal are Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Justice Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.The testimony and interrogation of 54 witnesses in Sheikh Hasina’s case was completed in a total of 28 working days. The prosecution and state defense arguments and rebuttals continued for another 9 working days. On October 23, the closing statement of the state's chief lawyer, Attorney General Md. Asaduzzaman, and the rebuttal of Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam and state-appointed lawyer Amir Hossain were given time to set the date for the verdict.In the arguments, the prosecution has sought the maximum sentence for Sheikh Hasina and Kamal. However, since Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, one of the accused in the case, is a witness, the decision is left to the tribunal. However, lawyer Zayed Bin Amjad has sought his acquittal. State-appointed lawyer Amir Hossain firmly believes that Hasina and Kamal will also be acquitted.The prosecution has brought five charges of crimes against humanity against the three accused in this case. These include incitement, use of deadly weapons, killing Abu Sayeed, killing in Chankharpul, and burning bodies in Ashulia. The formal charges total 8,747 pages. Of these, 2,018 pages are references, 4,05 pages are seized and documentary evidence, and 2,724 pages are martyrs' lists. 84 people have been called as witnesses. The tribunal's investigation agency submitted the report of the case to the Chief Prosecutor on May 12.

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