The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Tuesday sentenced Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President Hasanul Haq Inu to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined him Tk100,000 in a case over crimes against humanity committed during the July mass uprising.
The verdict was delivered by a three-member tribunal headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury. The other members were Justice Md Manjurul Bashid and Justice Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.
The verdict was broadcast live on Bangladesh Television (BTV). It marks the sixth verdict delivered in cases involving alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July mass uprising.
Inu, the sole accused in the case, faced eight charges. Among the key allegations were ordering the killing of six people in Kushtia during the July mass uprising and inciting attacks on protesters.
The tribunal sentenced him to 10 years' imprisonment under charge no 3. It also imposed compensation of Tk100,000 each under charges no 6 and 7, and sentenced him to 10 years' imprisonment on each of those charges.
The tribunal acquitted Inu of charges no 1, 2, 4, 5 and 8.
However, despite imposing separate sentences for different charges, the tribunal ruled that the sentences would run concurrently, meaning Inu will serve a total of 10 years in prison.
The tribunal had kept the case pending for judgment after hearing closing arguments from both the prosecution and the defence.
The prosecution was represented by prosecutors Faruk Ahmed, Moinul Karim, Abdus Sobhan Torofdar and others. Senior lawyer Monsurul Haque Chowdhury concluded the defence's closing arguments on behalf of Inu.
The defence took a total of nine days to present its case. During the hearings, Chowdhury raised various legal arguments in favour of the accused and contended that Inu was not a member of parliament during the July 2024 mass uprising.
Monsurul Haque said: “Inu had no involvement in the killing of six people in Kushtia. Witnesses in the case have also acknowledged that he was not present in Kushtia at the time of the killings.”
The case stems from the July-August 2024 movement, during which student protesters and civilians came under gunfire at several locations in Kushtia town on August 5, 2024.
The shootings left six people dead: worker Ashraful Islam, Suruj Ali Babu, student Abdullah Al Mustakin, Osama, businessman Bablu Farazi and employee Yusuf Sheikh. Many others were also injured. Following the incident, a case was filed against Inu at the International Crimes Tribunal.
Based on the investigation agency's report, the prosecution later submitted formal charges against him, accusing him of eight counts of crimes against humanity.