Hundreds of journalists across the world have expressed deep concern over the verdict delivered by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), which sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death on charges of crimes against humanity linked to the July 2024 demonstrations. The reaction came after the ICT announced its ruling on Monday, prompting widespread criticism of the judicial process.
The tribunal also imposed a death sentence on former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and handed a five-year imprisonment term to former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who appeared as a state witness in the case.
In a joint statement shared on the Awami League’s social media page, 102 journalists working across various domestic and international media organisations voiced their concerns regarding the conduct of the tribunal and the integrity of the verdict. The statement said the proceedings were marked by “bias” and “lack of transparency,” raising serious doubts about the independence of the judiciary in Bangladesh.
The group noted that the developments around the ICT in recent weeks had raised “grave questions” about judicial impartiality. It cited conflicting statements, procedural inconsistencies, and signs of political influence as factors undermining public trust in the fairness of the trial. The journalists stated that the erosion of judicial autonomy poses severe risks to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
They called for the immediate annulment of the verdict and urged that all related legal proceedings begin afresh under a transparent and impartial framework. Stressing that justice must be seen as fair regardless of the accused’s identity or political position, the journalists said that due process and neutrality, both fundamental to a fair trial, were “gravely absent” in this case.
The verdict also triggered strong reactions from the academic community. Around 1001 teachers from public universities in Bangladesh issued a separate statement rejecting the ICT ruling, describing it as “fabricated” and based on a “false and farcical” case.
They criticised the tribunal as functioning like a “kangaroo court,” accusing it of authoritarian practices, biased conduct, and reliance on false witness testimony. According to the statement, people inspired by the legacy of Bangabandhu, the independence movement, and the spirit of the liberation war had dismissed what they termed a “conspiratorial and predetermined verdict” against Hasina, whom they described as the architect of modern and prosperous Bangladesh.
The teachers, identifying themselves as members of the progressive academic community, expressed solidarity with the wider public in rejecting the verdict. They condemned the ruling, describing it as an outcome of an unjust and politically tainted process.
The strong pushback from journalists and educators marks one of the most vocal responses to an ICT decision in recent years, indicating rising domestic and international scrutiny of the tribunal’s operations.
