The Bangladesh tribunal court delivered a landmark verdict on Monday, sentencing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death for crimes against humanity during the 2024 student movement between July and August.
However, Chaudhry Abdullah Al-Mamun, the former police chief and third accused in this case, avoided the death penalty. Instead, he received a five-year prison term due to his cooperation with the government as a state witness after admitting his guilt.
Currently in exile in India, Sheikh Hasina has refused to appear before the court. Meanwhile, Asaduzzaman Khan is also missing, but Al-Mamun remains in custody.
How Did the Former Police Chief Avoid Execution?
Chaudhry Abdullah Al-Mamun confessed in court and expressed his willingness to testify for the government. In July, International Crimes Tribunal-1 approved his petition, allowing him to become a state witness.
Lead prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam reported that Al-Mamun was questioned about acknowledging his charges, to which he replied, "Yes, I accept the accusations and wish to help the court reveal the truth."
Testifying as a government witness in September, Al-Mamun disclosed in court that Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal directly ordered the murders during the July 2024 student uprising. In court, he stated, "This massacre resulted from the orders of Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman. Please forgive me." He also formally apologized to the country and the victims' families.
Anger Over Al-Mamun's Light Sentence
The families of the students and protesters who lost their lives in the July 2024 movement expressed outrage over Al-Mamun's mere five-year sentence. A member from a victim's family told a local news channel, "Hasina and Asaduzzaman received death sentences, yet Mamun, who fired at our children from a helicopter, gets just five years? This is not justice."
The leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the main student leader of the movement, Mir Snigdha, announced they would appeal Al-Mamun's sentence. "We seek at least a life term for Mamun. Five years is far too lenient," he declared.
Speaking on television, he said, "We will appeal against Mamun's five-year sentence. It should be either life imprisonment or a harsher penalty."
This whole event has created waves in Bangladeshi politics. The debate has intensified over whether an accused can escape hefty punishments by becoming a state witness, particularly when charged with serious human rights violations. The verdict also highlights the profound and ongoing political impact of the 2024 student revolt that challenged the governance system.
Priya Pareek, Associate Editor at India Today, initially wrote this report for the India Today website. This easy and comprehensive Hindi version allows you to stay informed. Learn more about Priya Pareek and her work by clicking here -
