Tribunal publishes full verdict sentencing Inu to 10 years in prison
JSD President and former Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu's 10-year prison sentence for conspiracy, incitement, and other crimes against humanity across the country, including the killing of six people in Kushtia during the July uprising, has been published in full by the International Crimes Tribunal-2.
International Crimes Tribunal-2 published the 500-page full copy of the verdict on Sunday (20 September).
Meanwhile, tribunal Prosecutor Mizanul Islam said the prosecution would appeal against the verdict and preparations for the appeal have been completed.
Earlier, on 30 June, International Crimes Tribunal-2 sentenced Hasanul Haq Inu to 10 years imprisonment in the case of crimes against humanity committed during the July 2024 uprising. Out of the eight charges brought against him, three were proved and he was sentenced to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment on each count. However, as the sentences will run concurrently Inu will have to serve a total of 10 years’ prison.
The full verdict said charges No 3, 6 and 7 brought against Inu had been proved. His liability was established for seriously injuring protesters, torture and persecution on political grounds. He was sentenced to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment under the relevant provisions of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973, on these charges.
In addition, Inu was found liable for conspiracy to commit crimes against humanity, incitement and aiding and abetting such crimes, for which he was sentenced to another 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk1 lakh. In another charge, he was sentenced to a further 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk1 lakh for his involvement in a conspiracy and agreement to commit crimes against humanity. However, all the sentences will run concurrently.
On the other hand, the tribunal acquitted Inu of charges No 1, 2, 4, 5 and 8 as these charges were not proved.
According to the indictment, in an interview with an Indian media outlet on 18 July 2024, Inu described the participants in the July movement as Jamaat members, terrorists and communalists. He was also accused of inciting, instigating and aiding the use of force against the protesters and ordering their killings.
The second charge stated that a meeting of the 14-party alliance, led by then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was held at Ganabhaban on 19 July 2024. The charge alleged that a “shoot-at-sight” decision was taken at the meeting to suppress the anti-discrimination student movement. It was also alleged that Inu, who was present at the meeting, had instructed, incited and assisted in taking and implementing the decision. However, he was acquitted of this charge as it was not proved.
The third charge alleged that an initiative was taken to prepare a list of protesters by identifying them from photographs and Inu called the police superintendent of Kushtia and instructed him to arrest and torture the protesters. The tribunal found this charge proved.
The fourth charge alleged Inu’s involvement in plans to deploy paramilitary forces and carry out bomb attacks from helicopters along with use of lethal weapons to suppress the movement. The fifth charge accused him of inciting protesters through various statements to the media and tacitly supporting the killings, torture and persecution carried out by the government. However the tribunal acquitted him of both the charges as they were not proved.
The sixth charge alleged that Inu, while attending a meeting of the 14-party alliance played a role in the decision to ban Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. The verdict said his liability in this charge had been proved.
The seventh charge accused him of being involved in a conspiracy through a telephone conversation with then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The tribunal also found this charge proved.
The eighth charge accused Inu of giving instructions for the killings of six protesters–Yusuf Sheikh, Usama, Suruj Ali, Ashraful Islam, Bablu Farazi and Abdullah Al Mustaqin-in Kushtia town on 5 August 2024. He was also accused of ordering the killings of around 1,400 people and the injuries of more than 25,000 students and members of the public across the country. However, as the charge was not proved the tribunal acquitted him of it.
Meanwhile, Hasanul Haq Inu is also facing a trial in a case over the Shapla Chattar massacre. The JSD president has been accused of attending a core committee meeting related to the Shapla Chattar killings in 2013 when he was serving as information minister.