State-appointed lawyer for Hasina says death penalty has left him ‘pained’

He says appeal against the verdict not possible unless the convicts surrender or get arrested

State-appointed defence lawyer Amir Hossain has said ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s death sentence for crimes against humanity for attempting to suppress the July Uprising has left him “deeply pained”.

Amir also represented former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal in the case tried at the International Crimes Tribunal. Asaduzzaman has also been handed the death penalty by the tribunal.

A three-member ICT-1 bench headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder delivered the verdict on Monday. The two other members of the tribunal are Justice Md Shofiul Alam Mahmood and retired district and sessions judge Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.

“I am in pain. I am in pain as my clients have been convicted. They received the highest punishment. Won’t that cause me pain? This is normal. I am in pain. That’s what I have to say at this moment,” said Amir after the verdict had been pronounced in the afternoon on Monday.

He said an appeal against the verdict was not possible unless his clients surrender or get arrested.

“You all heard the tribunal say I would not even get a copy of the verdict. The law allows the tribunal to make such a decision,” he said.