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An ousted prime minister will not be permitted to claim ignorance of trial proceedings to seek a delay in challenging her conviction before the International Crimes Tribunal-1, a prosecutor announced. Prosecutor Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim informed reporters that the former leader cannot use the plea of being unaware of the trial.

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She cannot take the plea that she was unaware of the trial proceedings.

Tamim stated that the former prime minister and other accused individuals had openly discussed the case and defended themselves through media outlets while residing abroad. Therefore, he asserted, they will not have the opportunity to claim ignorance of the proceedings upon their return to the tribunal.

The former prime minister was convicted and sentenced to death on November 17 last year for crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising in 2024. The former home minister was also sentenced to death in the same case. The prosecutor expressed that the prosecution would welcome the former prime minister's return to Bangladesh, urging her to appear before the tribunal and present her defense.

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So, when they come before the tribunal, they will not get the opportunity to say that they did not know about the proceedings.

Additionally, Tamim noted that India could legally extradite an individual wanted by a Bangladeshi court under the existing extradition treaty between the two nations, provided an arrest warrant or conviction warrant has been issued. The former prime minister has been living in India since fleeing Bangladesh in August 2024 and faces several other cases related to alleged crimes against humanity. Her political party's activities have also been banned within Bangladesh.

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The prosecution would welcome Hasina’s return to Bangladesh and urged her to appear before the tribunal and present her defence.