Court Correspondent //

A court has sentenced seven leaders of the Awami League—whose activities have been banned—to death in a case involving crimes against humanity committed during the July 2024 mass uprising. The verdict was announced today, Tuesday, by the three-member International Crimes Tribunal-2, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury. The other two members of the tribunal are Judge Md. Manjurul Basid and Judge Noor Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.

The other accused sentenced to death are: AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Joint General Secretary of the banned Awami League; Mohammad Ali Arafat, former State Minister for Information; Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, President of Jubo League, and Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, its General Secretary; and Saddam Hussain, President of Chhatra League, and Sheikh Wali Asif Inan, its General Secretary. All the accused in this case are currently fugitives.

On the previous day, Monday, following the presentation of arguments by the state, Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim sought the maximum penalty—death—and the confiscation of the accused’s assets. Conversely, two state-appointed lawyers representing the seven fugitive accused—Hasan Imam and Israt Jahan Ani—sought the acquittal of the accused in the case.

The International Crimes Tribunal framed charges against these seven top leaders in January of this year. The three-member Tribunal-2, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, rejected the accused’s petitions for acquittal and formally framed the charges. Simultaneously, the tribunal set February 17 as the next date for opening statements and the recording of testimony. The formal trial of the case commenced with the framing of these charges.

Hearings involving the prosecution and the defense took place on January 18. Prosecutors Mizanul Islam and Gazi MH Tamim presented arguments on behalf of the prosecution that day. During the hearing, they highlighted the individual liability of the accused and read out three specific charges brought against Obaidul Quader.

Meanwhile, state-appointed defense lawyers Hasan Imam and Ishrat Jahan presented arguments on behalf of the fugitive accused. During the hearing, they asserted that their clients had no involvement in the alleged offenses. Citing a lack of sufficient evidence, they requested that the accused be discharged and that formal charges not be framed against them.

Earlier, on December 18, the tribunal took cognizance of the formal charges filed by the prosecution against the accused. Although the accused were scheduled to be arrested and brought before the tribunal on December 29 following the issuance of warrants, law enforcement agencies were unable to locate them at any of their addresses. Subsequently, on December 30, an order was issued to publish a public notice in newspapers directing them to appear.

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