More than a hundred citizens have issued a joint statement calling the death sentence announced against Sheikh Hasina by the Jamaat-controlled International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) of Bangladesh unconstitutional, opaque, and a political vendetta.
The signatories include artists, writers, poets, theatre workers, journalists, diplomats, and film personalities.
A statement sent to the media on Sunday said that the verdict given in Sheikh Hasina’s absence on November 17 has created deep concern and apprehension among the Bangladeshi diaspora worldwide.
The statement said that for a long time, they have been showcasing Bangladeshi art and culture to the world. They are working from the ideals of the liberation war, humanity, equality, justice, and non-communalism. But the tribunal’s verdict has raised serious questions about the transparency, justice, and rule of law of the trial process.
International human rights organisations have expressed concern about the verdict and the trial process.
Amnesty International said the trial and sentence were unfair and that the death penalty exacerbated human rights violations. The organisation’s secretary-general, Agnes Callamard, cited the lack of independence and political influence of the ICT-BD.
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Human Rights Watch said all criminal trials must meet international fair trial standards. Trials in absentia undermine the right to a fair trial. The organisation also said Sheikh Hasina was not given the opportunity to hire a lawyer of her choice and that the appointed lawyers were unable to cross-examine witnesses or present counter-evidence effectively.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed its regret over the verdict, opposing the death penalty. The organisation said the verdict may be important for the victims, but justice must be served in a fair and impartial process.
The statement of the cultural activists said that Sheikh Hasina had been deprived of legal representation. There were also credible allegations of intimidation by a “mob” of lawyers who had taken on the responsibility of defending her.
The signatories also said that the long-standing question of the independence of the tribunal and the conduct of the trial without international observers has increased their concerns.
They said that every citizen has the right to a fair trial in accordance with international standards. However, the ICT-BD’s behaviour has undermined public trust in the judiciary.
The signatories made five demands in the statement. These include an independent international investigation into all human rights violations, including the July-August 2024 killings; the annulment of the current verdict and a new retrial in accordance with international standards; the freedom of the judiciary from political interference; the appointment of a lawyer of their choice for the accused; and the basis for all future verdicts in the case, including truth, law, and evidence.
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The names given in the statement are painter and freedom fighter Tajul Imam, Sammilit Sangskritik Jote general secretary and recitation artist Ahkam Ullah, film teacher Faridur Rahman, writer and journalist Syed Badrul Ahsan, writer and diplomat Dr. Harun Al Rashid, and poet and playwright Lutfar Rahman Riton.
Playwright and journalist Shafiq Babu, poet and journalist SM Abbas, writer and journalist Azam Khan, writer and journalist Masuda Varti, writer and journalist Sabbir Khan, and Khan Shawkat.
Among the theatre and film artists are Rokeya Prachi, Aruna Biswas, and Meher Afroz Shawon, artists Tarin Jahan, Sohana Saba, Shami Kaiser, Swadhin Khasru, Monira Rawnak Bubli, Diptanita Roy Martin, and Simon Sadiq; actors Jamshed Shamim, Tamal Mahbub, Ehsanul Aziz Babu, Mishti Subas, and Adhara Niharika; artists Liana Zaman and Sujan Yusuf; and cultural activists Al Amin Babu, Juton Das, Shamima Tusti, Jyotika Jyoti, Rajnigandha Rafiq, and Anirban Bhattacharya.
Among the theatre and film producers are Shahadat Rasel, Sagir Mostafa, SM Kamruzzaman Sagar, FM Shaheen, Sajjad Khan, Subarna Selim, Sajjad Qadir, Ashraful Alam (Shishir Ashraf), Shamim Reza Jewel, Rajib Hasan, Nihaz Khan Morshedur Rahman Antar, Albert Khan, Mushfiqur Rahman Gulzar, Dr. Masud Pathik, Khorshedul Alam Khoshru, Shah Alam Kiran, and Sohel Khan.
Among the cultural workers are Aniket Rajesh, Hasan Abdullah Biplob, Abdur Raihan, Jewel Raj, Selina Akhter Jochna, composer and artist Sangeet Sarkar (Kolkata), Salauddin Badal, and freedom fighter Siru Bengalir.
The statement names Sunil Kumar, Charu Pintu, Mosharraf Khan Badal, Md. Moniruzzaman, and Turya Kazi among the painters.
Besides, among the poets and writers are the brave freedom fighters Omar Selim, Delwar Hossain, Nasir Hasan, Sohanur Rahim Shawon, Shahana Jasmine, Akon Abu Bakr, Mosharraf Hossain, Nasrin Khan Pathan, Shahin Alim Joy, Asadullah, Padmanaf Adhikari, Kamrul Hasan, Nasir Uddin Haider, Kamrul Islam, Shanezul Islam, Shoaib Naeem, Kaniz Fatima Chowdhury, Nasir Ahmed, Ahmed Mansur, Milton Hasnat, Tuhin Das, Golam Morshed Chandan, Smritibhadra, Qutub Hilali, Sharmin Sultana Rina, Shariful Islam Khan, Kulda Roy, Russell Asad, Redoanur Rahman Jewel, Humayun Kabir Dhali, Manik Mohammad Razzak, Mohsin Khandaker, Sheikh Farid, Kamal Karmakar, Saifullah Mahmud Dulal, Karim Reza and Junaidul Haque.
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