The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 on Tuesday sentenced Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad) President and former information minister Hasanul Haq Inu to 10 years’ imprisonment in a case over crimes against humanity committed during the July 2024 mass uprising.
The tribunal delivered the verdict after concluding hearings from both the prosecution and the defence.
On 22 June, the court had fixed 30 June for pronouncing the judgement following the completion of final arguments.
During the trial, the prosecution argued that the charges against Inu had been proved beyond reasonable doubt and sought the highest punishment, the death penalty.
The defence, however, maintained that the prosecution had failed to establish the allegations and appealed for his acquittal.
Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam led the prosecution team, assisted by prosecutors Mizanul Islam and Faruk Ahammed.
Inu was represented by defence counsels Munsurul Haque Chowdhury and Sifat Mahmud.
Reacting to the verdict, Inu’s wife Afroza Haque rejected the tribunal’s decision, describing it as a “pre-arranged” and “disgraceful” judgment.
“We reject this verdict. We do not accept it,” she told reporters on the tribunal premises shortly after the judgment was pronounced.
According to the prosecution, Inu played a key role in instigating and provoking former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in the commission of crimes against humanity during the July uprising.
Prosecutors alleged that, influenced by Inu’s advice and encouragement, Hasina adopted and implemented a series of repressive decisions against the protesters.
The prosecution further argued that, as one of the senior leaders of the Awami League-led alliance, Inu bore “superior command responsibility” for crimes committed during the crackdown.
As part of its evidence, the prosecution submitted a recorded telephone conversation between Sheikh Hasina and Inu. Prosecutors claimed the conversation showed Inu describing the mass uprising as “militancy” and urging that it be suppressed.
The defence disputed the prosecution’s interpretation of the recording, arguing that it contained no instruction to open fire, carry out bomb attacks, torture protesters, or otherwise use unlawful force. Defence lawyers also contended that the prosecution had failed to produce documentary or testimonial evidence demonstrating that Inu ordered, instigated, or conspired to commit any of the alleged crimes.
The prosecution began presenting its witnesses on 1 December last year. Earlier, on 25 September, it submitted eight formal charges against Inu, which the tribunal accepted on the same day.
Inu was arrested on 26 August, 2024, and was subsequently shown arrested in the present case, which was filed over the deaths of six people in Kushtia during the July 2024 uprising.
He served as Information Minister during the Awami League government’s tenure.
