One hundred and two journalists from print, electronic, and online media outlets in Bangladesh and abroad issued a joint statement on Tuesday demanding the immediate annulment of the death sentence handed down by the International Crimes Tribunal-Bangladesh (ICT-BD) against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The group described the Monday verdict as “orchestrated, influenced, and retaliatory,” aimed at political vengeance. They called for a full retrial conducted in a transparent and impartial manner, free from coercion.
In their statement, the journalists outlined four specific demands to restore public trust in the judiciary. First, they urged the annulment of the verdict and a restart of proceedings under fully open and neutral conditions. Second, they sought a judiciary insulated from political or administrative pressure.
Third, they insisted on equal opportunities for all parties to appoint their own legal counsel and present arguments and evidence fairly. Fourth, they emphasised that any future verdicts must be based solely on law, truth, and credible evidence, without predetermined influence or external pressure.
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These measures, the signatories argued, are essential to safeguard democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. They warned that the current flaws in the process threaten the nation’s foundation. “Without justice, the state inevitably moves toward a perilous future,” the statement concluded.
The journalists highlighted recent inconsistencies in the ICT-BD proceedings, including a lack of transparency and clear signs of political influence. “When the judiciary is unable to function independently, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law come under severe threat,” they wrote.
They pointed to reports of unusual pressure on the court, one-sided presentation of information, and the denial of Hasina’s right to choose her counsel. Instead, a lawyer perceived as partisan was appointed on her behalf.
Allegations of mob intimidation and violence against defense lawyers during the trial further alarmed the group. “These developments appeared deeply troubling and even absurd to the nation,” the statement said.
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The signatories stressed that justice must apply equally to political leaders and ordinary citizens, administered transparently and impartially. Due process and neutrality, they added, were “gravely absent” in this case.
As media professionals, the journalists affirmed their duty to uphold truth, protect democracy, and defend judicial independence. This verdict, they said, has “profoundly damaged public trust” in Bangladesh’s justice system. “We stand united in our commitment to protect democracy, independent journalism, and the rule of law,” they declared.
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The statement was signed by prominent figures, including Syed Badrul Ahsan, a senior journalist; Farida Yasmin, former president of the National Press Club; Shaban Mahmud, former general secretary of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists; and Abu Zafar Surjo, former president of the Dhaka Union of Journalists. Taimur Faruq Tushar, editor of BengalNews24.com, circulated the message.
Expatriate signatories included senior journalists, like Fazlul Bari from Australia, Saifullah Mahmud Dulal from Canada, and Dastagir Jahangir from the USA. The list comprises 102 names spanning borders and beats, forming a chorus of concern over the tribunal’s shadow.
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