The International Criminal Tribunal-2 will announce the verdict of the case filed against Hasanul Haque Inu, president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSAD) and former Information Minister, on charges of involvement in crimes against humanity during the July 2024 uprising. The ruling in this much-discussed case has generated a lot of interest in the political and legal arena.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, chairman of the International Criminal Tribunal-II, will announce the verdict. The other two members of the bench are Justice Md. Manjurul Bachid and Justice Noor Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.
Earlier, on June 22, the tribunal fixed today for the judgment of the case. Earlier, on May 14, the case was adjourned for judgment (CAV) after a long hearing between the prosecution and the accused. Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam, Prosecutor Mizanul Islam and Farooq Ahmed participated in the hearing for the state. On the other hand, lawyers Munsurul Haque Chowdhury and Sifat Mahmud were on the side of the accused.
The state party has claimed in the court that the charges brought against Hasanul Haque Inu have been proved beyond doubt. Therefore, the prosecution sought the maximum punishment, i.e. death sentence. On the other hand, the prosecution claims that the prosecution has failed to prove the charges and Inoue should be acquitted.
According to the prosecution, Hasanul Haque Inu incited and incited then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to commit crimes against humanity during the July uprising. The then government took and implemented various repressive decisions at the request, advice and persuasion of the state party. Also on him for the crime committed as one of the top leaders of the Awami League-led alliance 'Superior Command Responsibility' Or the prosecution argued that the senior leadership is also responsible.
During the hearing, the prosecution presented an audio recording of the telephone conversation between Sheikh Hasina and Hasanul Haque Inu in the court. The prosecution claimed that in that conversation, Inu advocated a strict suppression of the mass movement, referring to it as militancy.
However, the accused denied these allegations. According to them, nowhere in that conversation was there any instruction or provocative statement to suppress the movement by firing, bombing, torture or illegal. There is also no evidence in the documents presented by the prosecution that Inoue ordered the shooting, incited torture or participated in any conspiracy.
Testimony in the case began on December 1 last year. Earlier on September 25, the prosecution filed eight specific charges against Inu at the International Criminal Tribunal. After the hearing, the tribunal took cognizance of the allegations.
It should be noted that Hasanul Haque Inu was arrested on August 26, 2024. He was later arrested in a case of crimes against humanity filed in connection with the killing of six people in Kushtia during the July uprising.
Hasanul Haq Inu, who served as the information minister during the Awami League government, was elected from Kushtia constituency as a candidate of the Awami League-led coalition in the 12th National Assembly elections, but was defeated by the rebel candidate of the Awami League.
Now all eyes are on the judgment of the International Criminal Tribunal. Through this verdict, the decision of the court on the charges brought against Hasanul Haque Inu will be known today.
