The International Crimes Tribunal convicted Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD) President Hasanul Haq Inu on three of eight charges in a crimes against humanity case linked to the July mass uprising, sentencing him to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment.
The tribunal found charges 3, 6 and 7 proven and acquitted Inu of the remaining five.
The verdict was delivered on Tuesday by International Crimes Tribunal-2, headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, with Justices Md Manjurul Bashid and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir as members.
Inu, the sole accused in the case, was produced before the tribunal from prison. The verdict was broadcast live on Bangladesh Television (BTV).
Charges proven
Charge 3: The tribunal found that Inu instructed the Kushtia superintendent of police over the phone to prepare a list of protesting students and civilians using photographs and to arrest and torture them.
Sentence: 10 years' rigorous imprisonment.
Charge 6: The tribunal found that Inu attended a meeting of the then-ruling 14-party alliance where a decision was taken to ban Jamaat-e-Islami.
Sentence: 10 years' rigorous imprisonment and Tk 1 lakh in compensation.
Charge 7: The tribunal found that Inu was involved in the alleged conspiracy through telephone conversations with former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Sentence: 10 years' rigorous imprisonment and Tk 1 lakh in compensation.
The tribunal ordered all three sentences to run concurrently, meaning Inu will serve 10 years in prison.
Charges not proven
The tribunal did not find sufficient evidence to prove the following allegations:
- Charge 1: Inu labelled July protesters as Jamaat members, terrorists and communal forces in an interview with an Indian media outlet on July 18, 2024, and incited the use of force against them.
- Charge 2: Inu attended a July 19, 2024, meeting at Ganabhaban where the then-ruling 14-party alliance allegedly adopted a "shoot-at-sight" policy to suppress the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and supported its implementation.
- Charge 4: Inu planned the use of lethal weapons and helicopter bombings to suppress the movement.
- Charge 5: Inu made provocative public statements and endorsed the government's killings and repression during the uprising.
- Charge 8: Inu ordered the killing of six protesters in Kushtia on August 5, 2024, and directed the killing of 1,400 people and the injuring of more than 25,000 others across the country.
Case timeline
According to the prosecution, the investigation began on March 25, 2025, and the investigation report was submitted on September 11, 2025.
Formal charges were filed on September 25, 2025, and the tribunal framed charges on November 2, 2025.
The trial opened on November 30, 2025, with the first witness testifying the following day. The prosecution examined 10 witnesses, while the defence produced two.
Final arguments ran from April 13 to May 13, 2026. The tribunal fixed June 30 for the verdict on June 22.