Published : 07 Oct 2026, 02:43 PM
Updated : 07 Oct 2026, 03:19 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.
The court kept the decision as curia advisari vult (CAV), meaning that a verdict in the case may be delivered on any day.
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.
In addition to Hanif, the others accused in the case are former Kushtia district council 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 suspects are absconding.
On Oct 5, the state presented arguments calling for all four suspects to receive the maximum punishment. Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim presented the arguments that day.
Prosecutor Tamim said in his argument, “As the joint general secretary of the Awami League, Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif accepted the government’s decision to suppress the July Uprising movement and implemented it through his subordinates. He was a civilian leader. He implemented all this through orders from his subordinates or telephone conversations.”
He also said that the tribunal had given the maximum sentence to Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, General Secretary Obaidul Quader and Joint General Secretary Bahauddin Nasim for the same crime. Accordingly, the state expects Hanif to receive the same punishment for the same offence.
The prosecution claims that in addition to instigating and aiding during the July Uprising, Hanif was present at every meeting of called by Quader and supported him. He also allegedly gave orders to carry out the massacre to the Kushtia police superintendent, district and Upazila chairmen and Awami League leaders and activists through telephone conversations.
The records of these conversations have been submitted to the tribunal. On Jun 7, the prosecution concluded its arguments, seeking the maximum punishment for Hanif and the three other suspects.
A total of three charges have been brought against Hanif and the four accused. These include agreeing with Quader's statement regarding the use of Chhatra League to suppress the movement, ordering and conspiring to kill students and the public at a meeting in Kushtia on Jul 29, and the murder of six people.
The testimonies of 19 people, including the investigating officer, have been recorded in the case. The recording of testimonies ended on Apr 23. Then, on May 11, the state began presenting arguments. The state claims that the killings that took place in Kushtia were not an isolated incident but part of a planned and coordinated programme to suppress the movement.
On Jun 10, after hearing the arguments from the state and the accused, the Tribunal-2 had kept the case pending for a verdict. Later, the arguments were presented again after the prosecution submitted additional evidence.
Regarding additional evidence, the prosecution said that the statement made by local Awami League leader Asgar Ali in front of the Kushtia District Awami League office on Jul 27, 2024, has been presented as important evidence in the case.
The state claims that the statement mentioned suppressing the movement on Hanif's orders. The prosecution submitted a formal complaint to the tribunal on Oct 6, 2025. Later, on Nov 2, the three-member International Crimes Tribunal-2 headed by Justice Nozrul framed formal charges against Hanif and three others and ordered the trial to begin.
