The International Crimes Tribunal has identified the Bangladesh Awami League, Jubo League, Chhatra League and their political ally, the 14-party alliance, as a criminal organisations over widespread and systematic attacks on unarmed students and civilians during the July Mass Uprising of 2024.
The tribunal’s observations in its verdict on Thursday stated that the attacks were carried out in a planned manner as part of a common policy of persecution.
Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim disclosed these observations in the detailed verdict, following the announcement of a brief verdict at noon.
The observations came in the verdict delivered against four leaders, including Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbub Ul Alam Hanif, in a crimes against humanity case over the killing of six people in Kushtia during the July Mass Uprising.
International Crimes Tribunal-2, headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, delivered the verdict.
The other two members of the bench were Judge Md Manjurul Bashid and Judge Noor Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.
The verdict sentenced the principal accused, Mahbub Ul Alam Hanif, to death.
The other three accused — Kushtia district Awami League President Md Sadar Uddin Khan, district General Secretary Md Azgar Ali and Kushtia town Awami League General Secretary Md Ataur Rahman Ata — were sentenced to imprisonment for the remainder of their lives.
All four accused are currently absconding.
The verdict ordered the confiscation of half of the accused persons’ immovable properties.
The tribunal directed that the confiscated assets be provided as compensation to the families of those killed and injured during the July Mass Uprising through the July Foundation or another appropriate channel.
Under the fifth charge, concerning “common intention and criminal organisation”, the verdict stated that the Awami League, Jubo League, Chhatra League and the 14-party alliance jointly carried out planned and systematic attacks across the country against ordinary students and civilians during the July Mass Uprising as part of a common policy of persecution.
These attacks formed part of a widespread and systematic assault.
The verdict further stated that the accused, including Hanif, knowingly and intentionally worked to implement the common policy of persecution as part of the organisational structure.
Through these acts, they committed crimes against humanity under Sections 3(2)(a) and 4(1) of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973.
Serious charges against the accused, including murder, attempted murder, torture, instigation, conspiracy, incitement and participation in widespread and systematic attacks against the civilian population, were also proved.
These offences are punishable under the relevant provisions of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act.
Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim told Daily Waadaa, “The fifth charge in the case raised the issue of a ‘joint criminal enterprise’, or a common criminal purpose, and a criminal organisation. At the time of framing the charges, the tribunal had said that the crimes against humanity committed through widespread and systematic attacks across the country were part of the Awami League’s organisational plan. The Awami League, Jubo League, Chhatra League and the 14-party alliance implemented this plan.”
He added that the charge was proved before the tribunal.
“At the same time, the verdict made specific observations identifying the Awami League, Chhatra League, Jubo League and the 14-party alliance as criminal organisations.”