ICT hands Inu 10-year prison term

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Tuesday sentenced Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) leader Hasanul Haque Inu to 10-year imprisonment for three charges of crimes against humanity during the July Uprising.

The three-member ICT-2, led by Justice Nazrul Islam delivered the verdict.

Inu, a key partner of Sheikh Hasina’s 14-party alliance, the sole accused in the case, faced eight charges.

He was acquitted of five.

The three charges are - Calling the police Super in Kushtia to take action against protesters during the July uprising, being present in the 14-party alliance meeting where Jamaat-e-Islam was banned, effectively legitimising killing and atrocities against protesters, and hatching a conspiracy with then prime minister Sheikh Hasina to instruct forces to use open fire on protesters.

The prosecution alleged that following a conspiracy and instructions from Hasina, Inu and Awami League leader Mahbub Ul Alam Hanif, alongside activists of AL, its affiliated organisations, and police opened fire on unarmed students and civilians at various locations in Kushtia town, killing six people.

The victims were Ashraful Islam, Suruj Ali (Babu), Abdullah Al Mustakin, Md Usama, Bablu Farazi, and Yusuf Sheikh. 

Earlier in the morning, Inu was brought from prison to the tribunal for the announcement of the judgment.

Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam represented the prosecution, along with other prosecutors.

Lawyers Mansurul Haq Chowdhury and Naznin Ahsan defended the case on behalf of Inu. 

On September 25 last year, the prosecution submitted a formal charge sheet against Inu containing eight charges.

Ten witnesses testified against Inu, while two testified in Inu’s favour.

Following the fall of the AL government, Inu was arrested from the Uttara area of the capital on August 26, 2024.