The verdict in the case against Hasanul Haq Inu, president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, on charges of crimes against humanity during the July uprising, will be delivered on 30 June.
International Crimes Tribunal‑2 fixed the date for pronouncement on Monday.
Earlier, after lengthy hearings from both prosecution and defense, the court kept the verdict pending on 14 May. The date for announcement was given on Monday.
The prosecution claimed that the charges against Inu have been proven and sought the capital punishment — death penalty. The defense, on the other hand, argued that the charges were not proven and sought his acquittal.
Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam, Prosecutor Mizanul Islam, and Prosecutor Faruk Ahmad appeared for the prosecution. Lawyers Monsurul Haq Chowdhury and Sifat Mahmud represented the defense.
According to the prosecution, during the July uprising, Inu incited and provoked then prime minister Sheikh Hasina to commit crimes against humanity.
Influenced by Inu’s instigation, Hasina, as prime minister, took and implemented various destructive decisions. As one of the top leaders of the Awami League‑led alliance, superior command responsibility also rests on him for these crimes.
The prosecution also presented in court a record of Inu’s telephone conversation with Hasina, where the JSD president described the mass movement as terrorism and spoke of suppressing it.
On 1 December last year, the tribunal began recording prosecution witnesses in this case. Earlier, on 25 September of that year, the prosecution submitted eight specific charges to the tribunal. On the same day, after hearing, the tribunal took cognisance of the charges against Inu.
It may be noted that Inu was arrested on 26 August 2024. Later, he was shown arrested in the crimes against humanity case over the killing of six people in Kushtia during the 2024 uprising.
Inu had served as Information Minister under the Awami League government. However, in the 12th parliamentary election, he lost his own constituency in Kushtia to an Awami League rebel candidate while contesting as a nominee of the alliance.
‘Keeping Court Orders in Red‑Green Notebooks’
Inu, former information minister of the ousted Awami League government, told the court that he has kept two notebooks in prison — one red and one green — where he records detailed information about the cases against him, including which court is issuing which orders.
He made the remark on Monday when he was produced before Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Najmin Akter’s court for a hearing on a petition to show him arrested in a case filed with Bangshal Police Station.
Confirming the matter, state counsel Harun‑or‑Rashid said Inu’s statement amounted to a “threat” to the court and could fall under contempt of court.
He said, “Inu stated that he is keeping records of which court is issuing which orders and what lawyers are saying in court.” He further informed that the court showed him arrested in the case and will later issue an order regarding contempt.
Earlier, Rashed Khan Menon were produced before the same court. In the hearing, state counsel Harun‑or‑Rashid argued in favour of the police petition. Later, with the court’s permission, Inu made his statement.
He also expressed anger at being kept waiting for a long time in the court’s lock‑up before the hearing. Inu claimed, “The judiciary is now being run as a branch of the Ministry of Home Affairs.” He added that he is keeping detailed notes on these matters.
After the hearing, the court ordered both Inu and Menon to be shown arrested in the case. However, whether Inu’s statement amounts to contempt of court will be decided later.
According to the case complaint, on 5 August 2024, complainant Md Mokhlesin was shot while participating in a procession at Chankharpul intersection on Nazimuddin Road.
Local people later took him to Mitford Hospital in a bleeding condition. Following the incident, Mokhlesin filed an attempted murder case on 1 January last year.
