The International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced Mahbubul Alam Hanif, a joint general secretary of the now-banned Awami League, to death for crimes against humanity, including the killing of six people in Kushtia during the July mass uprising.
Three other defendants in the case have been sentenced to imprisonment for the remainder of their lives.
The verdict was delivered on Thursday by a three-member panel of International Crimes Tribunal-2, led by Chairman Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury.
The tribunal found Hanif guilty on counts 1 to 6 of the first charge and sentenced him to death. He was also found guilty of the second and third charges and sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour.
The three other defendants — Md Sadar Uddin Khan, Md Azgar Ali and Md Ataur Rahman Ata — were found guilty on counts 1 to 6 of the first charge and sentenced to imprisonment for the remainder of their lives with hard labour. They were also sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour on the second and third charges.
The tribunal found all four defendants guilty of the fourth and fifth charges and sentenced each to life imprisonment with hard labour.
Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam and other members of the prosecution team were present when the verdict was announced. State-appointed lawyer Amir Hossain represented the defendants, who are currently at large.
The tribunal had reserved the verdict after the prosecution and defence concluded their arguments. October 27 was subsequently set as the date for delivering the judgment.
Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim presented the prosecution's arguments, assisted by Faruk Ahammad, Sahidul Islam Sardar, Abdus Sattar Palwan and others.
Tamim said proceedings against the four accused had concluded, but the prosecution later submitted additional evidence, prompting further arguments. The prosecution sought the maximum punishment for all four defendants.
He alleged that Hanif, as a joint general secretary of the Awami League, was involved in government decision-making to suppress the July mass uprising and coordinated the implementation of those measures through his subordinates.
According to Tamim, Hanif issued directives to his subordinates and coordinated actions through telephone conversations. He also alleged that Hanif took part in key party decisions, supported meetings held by Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and instructed the Kushtia superintendent of police, district and upazila chairmen, and party activists to carry out the killings. The prosecution submitted records of the telephone conversations as evidence, he said.
Tamim also referred to sentences previously handed down by the tribunal to Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, General Secretary Obaidul Quader and Joint General Secretary Bahauddin Nasim for the same offences, arguing that Hanif should receive a similar sentence because of his comparable position.
The other accused are Kushtia District Awami League President Sadar Uddin Khan, district general secretary Azgar Ali and Kushtia city unit general secretary Ataur Rahman Ata. All four defendants are in hiding.
The tribunal formally framed charges against the four accused on November 2, 2025, paving the way for the trial. The prosecution submitted the formal charges on October 5, and the tribunal took cognizance of them the following day.
The charges included making inflammatory statements, conspiracy and the killing of six people in Kushtia. Testimony from 19 witnesses had been completed by April 23, after the investigating officer was cross-examined. The tribunal later reopened arguments after the prosecution submitted additional evidence.
