Dhaka, July 7 - Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal on Monday set July 10 as the date to decide whether to frame charges against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two of her top aides. Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police Chaudhry Abdullah Al-Mamun have been charged in a case of alleged crimes against humanity.
The Daily Star newspaper reported that the International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) has set July 10 as the date to decide whether to frame charges against Hasina, Kamal and Al-Mamun. It said that on that day the three-member tribunal will hear petitions filed by defense lawyers, who argued that the charges against their clients are baseless and should be dismissed.
Hasina, Kamal and Al-Mamun were charged with five counts of crimes against humanity on June 1. The prosecution has brought several other charges against the ousted prime minister, former home minister and former top police officer, including murder, attempted murder, torture and use of deadly weapons.
Hasina was sentenced in absentia by the ICT on Wednesday last week to six months in prison for contempt of court. This is the first time the 77-year-old Awami League leader has been sentenced in any case since she left office in August last year.