An appeal has been filed seeking an increase in the sentence handed down to Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad) President Hasanul Haq Inu by the International Crimes Tribunal in a case involving crimes against humanity, including the killing of six people in Kushtia during the July-August mass uprising.
Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim confirmed the matter on Monday.
On June 30, the International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Inu to 10 years in prison and fined him Tk1 lakh.
The verdict was delivered by a tribunal bench led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, chairman of International Crimes Tribunal-2.
Eight charges were brought against Inu. The tribunal sentenced him to 10 years in prison on the third charge. For charges 6 and 7, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison on each count and ordered to pay Tk1 lakh in compensation for each, totalling Tk2 lakh.
However, the tribunal acquitted him of charges 1, 2, 4, 5 and 8.
Despite the separate sentences, the tribunal ordered that the sentences be served concurrently, meaning Inu will serve a total of 10 years in prison.
On May 14, after hearing arguments from both sides, the tribunal kept the case under Curia Advisari Vult (CAV), meaning the verdict was reserved for a later date.
Prosecutors Faruk Ahammad, Moinul Karim and Abdus Sobhan Tarafder, among others, represented the prosecution at the hearing. Senior lawyer Mansurul Haque Chowdhury represented Inu and concluded the defence arguments.
The defence presented its arguments over nine days, highlighting various legal issues in Inu's favour. It also argued that Inu was not a member of parliament during the July 2024 mass uprising.
Mansurul Haque said Inu had no involvement in the killing of the six people in Kushtia. Witnesses in the case also said he was not present in Kushtia when the killings took place.
The verdict was subsequently published on September 20 after being signed by the tribunal bench led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury.
Six killed in Kushtia
On August 5, 2024, amid the July-August movement, gunfire was reported at several locations in Kushtia town, killing six people: worker Ashraful Islam, Suruj Ali Babu, students Abdullah Al Mustakin and Usama, businessman Bablu Faraji, and employee Yusuf Sheikh.
Several others were also injured in the violence.
A case was later filed against Inu at the International Crimes Tribunal in connection with the killings. Based on an investigation agency report, the prosecution subsequently submitted formal charges outlining eight allegations against him.
