Bangladesh tribunal's conviction of former PM Sheikh Hasina “miscarriage of justice” says rights group

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death. File pic

The recent conviction of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death, and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun to five years' imprisonment by Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal, is a "political farce and a miscarriage of justice", the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) said on Monday.

"The trial of Sheikh Hasina in absentia violates basic international human rights standards on fair trial. The interim government of Bangladesh did not pursue her extradition from India. If there had been evidence, Bangladesh could have filed a petition before India's Supreme Court for her extradition," said Suhas Chakma, Director of RRAG, adding, "Any country following the rule of law seeks extradition of the accused to meet fair trial standards, as India did for Abu Salem and is currently doing for Mehul Choksi in Belgium. Bangladesh, lacking evidence, decided to sentence Hasina and her colleagues in a Kangaroo Court trial."

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Hasina faced allegations including the murder of Abu Sayed near Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, the killing of six unarmed protesters in Dhaka's Chankharpul, and the deaths of six students at Ashulia last year.

"How could Hasina be charged without naming the actual perpetrators? Former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun could not serve as approver as he was not present at the crime scenes," Chakma added.

During the verdict, the tribunal referred to reports by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Human Rights Watch, and from the news media as evidence.

Chakma said, "These reports cannot serve as evidence unless representatives testify with corroborative proof. No such testimonies or cross-examinations occurred, especially in a case awarding the death sentence. This trial is also a miscarriage of justice for the victims, as the real perpetrators remain unpunished."