Dhaka:The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has sentenced Mahbubul Alam Hanif, a Joint General Secretary of the now-banned Awami League, to death for his involvement in crimes against humanity, including the killing of six people in Kushtia during the July Uprising in 2024.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the tribunal also sentenced Sadar Uddin Khan, President of the Kushtia district Awami League, Azgar Ali, General Secretary of the district Awami League, and Ataur Rahman, General Secretary of the Kushtia municipality Awami League, to imprisonment until death. The verdict was delivered by a three-member judicial panel headed by Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury. All the convicted individuals were tried in absentia.
Hanif was found guilty on multiple counts under charge No. 1 and sentenced to death, with additional life imprisonment sentences under charges No. 2 and 3. The other three individuals received similar sentences for charges No. 1, 2, and 3, and all four were sentenced to life imprisonment for combined charges No. 4 and 5. The tribunal also ordered the confiscation of half of the immovable property of each convicted individual, with proceeds from sales directed as compensation to victims of the uprising through a recognized organization.
The prosecution stated that the investigation began on March 25 of the previous year, with formal charges submitted on October 6. Hanif was accused of supporting provocative statements by Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and directing violent actions against protesters. The tribunal's trial process included hearings from both sides, witness testimonies, and closing arguments, leading to the reserved verdict delivered on Thursday.