Hasina, Kamal's assets seized; fugitives cannot appeal: AG Asazuzzaman
Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal have no scope to file an appeal as long as they remain fugitives, said Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman following the pronouncement of the verdict in the crimes against humanity case today (17 November).
He further confirmed that the court had ordered the attachment and confiscation of all properties belonging to Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal within Bangladesh.
The Attorney General added the state would take all necessary legal measures to implement the verdict.
Responding to questions about the sentences handed down to the accused, he said, "Two of the accused in this case have received the maximum punishment – death. One accused, who appeared before the court as a state witness, has been sentenced to five years' imprisonment after the court's overall assessment."
"You have heard the charges on which the sentences were based. Of the five charges against Hasina, the court consolidated them into three counts. On one count – superior command responsibility – the court sentenced Sheikh Hasina to life imprisonment. For the direct instructions she gave, she has been sentenced to death."
Asked when the sentences would take effect, he replied, "Under the law, the sentences will take effect from the day she is arrested."
He added, "Once the government receives the full copy of the judgment, it will review it and take all subsequent legal steps. The government will not resort to any unlawful or irregular methods."
Regarding efforts to bring Sheikh Hasina back from India, the Attorney General said, "The state will take all measures required under the law."
On the demand to ban the Awami League, the Attorney General said the court had made no comment on the matter. "The court has stated that the issue of banning the Awami League was not part of this case, and therefore they did not comment on it," he noted.
Asaduzzaman added that the court had also directed that compensation be provided to the families of the martyrs and to those who were injured.