BNP and Jamaat had infiltrated the student quota reform movement, lawyers for detained former information minister Hasanul Haq Inu have claimed during arguments in a crimes against humanity case at the International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Sunday.
Defence lawyer Munsurul Haque Chowdhury argued that in an 18 July 2024 television interview, Inu expressed support for the students’ quota reform, stating that “political opposition parties including BNP-Jamaat and communal militant groups are trying to muddy the situation and cause the fall of the government by infiltrating the students’ movement.”
The defence claimed that a UN fact-finding report submitted by the prosecution shows that on 17 July, BNP and Jamaat instructed their leaders to implement the students’ complete shutdown programme, proving that Inu’s statement about political party infiltration was true.
The prosecution had alleged that Inu referred to protesters as “BNP”, “terrorists”, “Jamaat”, and “communal forces” in the interview, thereby inciting and facilitating their killing.
The defense also claimed that no bombs were dropped from RAB helicopters during the July mass uprising, asserting that RAB and police chiefs informed a UN delegation that only tear shells and sound grenades were used.
Regarding an allegation that Inu spoke over the telephone with the then Kushtia SP and instructed him to arrest, detain, torture, and kill protesters, the defence argued that the prosecution has not presented the call record to the tribunal. The then Kushtia SP has not been made an accused or even a witness in the case, leaving no evidence to support the allegation, the defense said.
The defense also claimed that no decision to impose curfew was made at a 14-party meeting, adding that imposing curfew is not illegal as the government can do so to keep people in their homes considering the situation.
The prosecution began recording testimony in the case on 1 December last year. The tribunal took cognizance of eight specific charges against Inu on 25 September. The prosecution’s testimony has concluded.
Inu was arrested on 26 August 2024, and later shown arrested in this case over the killing of six people in Kushtia during the mass uprising. He served as information minister during the Awami League government but lost his Kushtia seat in the 12th parliamentary election.
