Home
+
Published : 10 Jun 2026, 05:22 PM
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is set to deliver its verdict in the coming days in a crimes against humanity case against four Awami League leaders, including Mahbubul Alam Hanif, over the killing of six people in Kushtia during the 2024 July Uprising.
On Wednesday, International Crimes Tribunal-2, led by Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury, reserved its verdict after hearing closing arguments from both the prosecution and the defence.
The three other suspects are former Kushtia Zilla Parishad chairman and district Awami League president Sadar Uddin Khan, district Awami League general secretary Asgar Ali, and former Kushtia Sadar Upazila Parishad chairman and town Awami League general secretary Ataur Rahman Ata.
All four are absconding.
State-appointed defence counsel Amir Hossain presented arguments on behalf of the suspects before the court.
Prosecutor Mizanul Islam later rebutted the defence’s arguments.
Prosecutors Faruk Ahmad and Abdus Sattar Palwan were also present during the proceedings.
On Jun 7, the prosecution concluded its arguments, seeking the maximum punishment for Hanif and the three other suspects.
Arguments in the case began on May 11. Earlier, on Apr 23, testimony from 19 witnesses was completed with the cross-examination of the investigating officer.
The prosecution submitted formal charges against the four suspects on Oct 5 last year, and the tribunal took cognisance of the case the following day.
On Oct 6, the tribunal issued arrest warrants and ordered the suspects to appear before the court by Oct 14.
After police reported that the accused could not be arrested, the tribunal ordered notices to be published in two national newspapers directing them to surrender before the court.
When they failed to appear, the tribunal appointed a defence counsel on their behalf on Oct 23.
Formal charges were framed against Hanif and the three others on Nov 2 last year, paving the way for the trial to begin.
According to the formal charges submitted by the prosecution, the accused face three specific allegations.
One of the charges involves “command responsibility”, alleging that they silently endorsed remarks made by then Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader during a press conference, where he said that leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations were sufficient to resist the protesters.
The accused are also alleged to have directly instructed, planned and conspired to kill student-led protesters at a “secret meeting” in Kushtia on Jul 29, 2024.
In addition, the four Awami League leaders face specific allegations of involvement in the killing of six people by gunfire in Kushtia town during the anti-government movement in July and August 2024.
