Dhaka, Oct. 23 -- Sheikh Hasina's state-appointed lawyer has rejected the attorney general's accusation that the deposed prime minister fled Bangladesh to evade justice, saying instead that she was "forced to leave".

The exchange came on Thursday during the closing arguments of the July Uprising crimes against humanity case at International Crimes Tribunal-1, where Attorney General Mohammad Asaduzzaman delivered his concluding statement for the prosecution.

Asaduzzaman said, "What had happened that made her (Hasina) flee? They [Hasina-led government] have killed people. They committed crimes against humanity. The prosecution presented witnesses against them. They knew the trial was inevitable. That's why they ran away."

He added, "Thos...