DHAKA: Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif was sentenced to death for the killing of six people in Kushtia during the July Uprising.
Three other party leaders were sentenced to jail until death. They are Kushtia district Awami League President and former Zila Parishad Chairman Sadruddin Khan, district Awami League General Secretary Azgar Ali, and Kushtia city Awami League General Secretary Ataur Rahman Ata.
The three-member International Crimes Tribunal-2, led by its Chairman Nozrul Islam Chowdhury, pronounced the verdict around noon on Thursday (Oct 29) in the crimes against humanity case.
The prosecution concluded its arguments on Oct 5, seeking the maximum punishment for all four accused, who are absconding.
The tribunal also ordered the confiscation of half of the immovable property of all four convicted leaders.
It directed that the proceeds from the sale of the confiscated property be distributed as compensation to those killed and injured during the July 2024 movement through the July Foundation or another statutory organisation.
The tribunal framed three charges against Hanif and the three others on Nov 2, 2025.
Charge 1
Hanif allegedly endorsed provocative statements made by Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader at several events on July 15, 17 and 30, and Aug 3, 2024.
At a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club on July 29, Hanif allegedly described protesters as Jamaat activists, criminals and communal elements, and incited violence against them.
The prosecution said his statements encouraged and facilitated the use of lethal weapons against protesters, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,400 people and serious injuries to over 25,000 others.
Charge 2
At a meeting at the Kushtia district Awami League office on July 27, 2024, Hanif allegedly directed district Awami League leaders Sadruddin Khan, Azgar Ali and Ataur Rahman Ata to use maximum force to suppress the anti-discrimination movement.
The prosecution also accused the four leaders of inciting and facilitating attacks on protesters.
It said six protesters -- Ashraful Islam, Suruj Ali Babu, Abdullah Al Mustakin, Osama, Bablu Farazi and Yusuf Sheikh -- were shot dead and many others were seriously injured in Kushtia on Aug 5.
Charge 3
Hanif, along with Sadruddin, Azgar and Ataur, allegedly played a role in the killing of the six protesters in Kushtia on Aug 5, 2024.
According to the prosecution, acting on directives involving then prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the accused directed local Awami League leaders and activists, with police support, to open fire on unarmed protesters at different locations in Kushtia city. - The Daily Star/ANN
