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Published : 15 Jan 2026, 08:09 PM
The chamber court has forwarded an appeal to the Appellate Division seeking to upgrade the life sentences of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to the death penalty in crime against humanity case.
The appeal, filed by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) prosecution, targets the charges for which both were previously sentenced to life imprisonment.
On Monday, Judge Md Rezaul Haque referred the matter to the full Appellate Division bench.
ICT chief counsel Mohammad Tajul Islam represented the prosecution.
He said that while one charge had already resulted in a death sentence, the life sentences imposed under other charges can legally be appealed to the Supreme Court under Section 21 of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973.
The appeal was filed on Dec 15 and, by law, must be resolved within 60 working days.
He added that a special hearing date was sought to expedite proceedings, and the full bench has scheduled the appeal for Jan 20.
Tajul argued that evidence proved the suspects were guilty, and the life sentences did not meet legal standards for the severity of the crimes.
He highlighted charge number one, citing incitement, targeting students as “sons and grandsons of Razakars”, and discussions with Maksud Kamal advocating killings, all supported by testimony.
Hasina and former minister Kamal were sentenced in connection with crimes committed during attempts to suppress the July Uprising.
