United News of Bangladesh

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSad) President and former Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu has appealed to the Appellate Division seeking acquittal from the 10-year imprisonment handed down by the International Crimes Tribunal in a crimes against humanity case. The appeal was filed with the relevant section of the Appellate Division on Wednesday, said his lawyer, Sifat Mahmud Shuvo. Earlier, the prosecution filed an appeal seeking to enhance Inu’s sentence to death in the same case. Both Inu’s appeal seeking acquittal and the prosecution’s plea for the maximum punishment are now pending before the Appellate Division. On June 30, International Crimes Tribunal-2 sentenced Inu to 10 years in prison in a crimes against humanity case. Of the eight charges brought against him, he was found guilty of charges 3, 6 and 7 and sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for each charge. However, as the sentences were ordered to run concurrently, he will serve a total of 10 years in prison.      

The prosecution on Monday submitted formal charges against 41 people, including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former army chief General (retd) Aziz Ahmed, over the May 5, 2013 crackdown on Hefazat-e-Islam’s Shapla Chattar rally in Dhaka. Prosecutor Zahirul Amin submitted the charge sheet to the Registrar of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) at around 10:45am. Prosecutor Marjina Raihan accompanied him. A three-member bench of Tribunal-2, headed by Chairman Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, is scheduled to hold a hearing on the matter today. Nine accused are currently in custody in the case. They are former minister Dr Dipu Moni, former state minister for home affairs Shamsul Haque Tuku, Major General (retd) Ziaul Ahsan, former Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque, former Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Mollah Nazrul Islam, Ghatak-Dalal Nirmul Committee advisory board president Shahriar Kabir, former DIG Abdul Jalil Mondal, and journalists Farzana Rupa and Mozammel Babu. According to the prosecution, 58 people were killed at four locations, including Dhaka, in connection with the Hefazat rally on May 5, 2013. The investigation agency has identified 32 victims in Dhaka, 20 in Narayanganj, five in Chattogram and one in Cumilla.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 on Tuesday sentenced former minister and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President Hasanul Haq Inu to 10 years of imprisonment in a case over killing of six people in Kushtia during the July 2024 uprising. The three-member bench of ICT-2 led by its Chairman Justice Nazrul Islam handed down the punishment. Earlier on May 14, the ICT kept the verdict pending in the case after concluding the law-point arguments from both sides. The prosecution submitted the investigation report against Inu on September 11, 2025. The recording of testimony began on November 30. A total of 10 prosecution witnesses testified in the case while two witnesses testified on behalf of the defence. According to the case statement, six protesters were shot dead at different locations in Kushtia town on August 5, 2024. They were Ashraful Islam, Suruj Ali Babu, student Abdullah Al Mustakin, Osama, businessman Bablu Farazi and employee Yusuf Sheikh. A case was filed against Inu before the International Crimes Tribunal. Based on the findings of the investigation agency, the prosecution later submitted formal charges against him, bringing eight counts. One of the charges is Inu, as president of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD), a key partner in the then-ruling 14-party alliance, used his senior political position to encourage the suppression of the movement. Besides, On July 18 last year, in an interview with the Mumbai-based Indian media outlet Mirror Now, he allegedly labelled the protesters as members of the BNP, Jamaat, terrorists and communal forces in an attempt to discredit the movement and incited the use of force against them. The second charge is on July 19 last year, a meeting of the then-ruling 14-party alliance was held at Ganabhaban under the chairmanship of Sheikh Hasina, with Inu in attendance. The meeting decided to deploy the military nationwide to suppress the quota reform and anti-discrimination student movement and ordered security forces to shoot unarmed and peaceful protesters on sight. According to the charges, Inu, as president of JASAD and a senior partner in the ruling alliance, was directly involved in making and implementing that decision and instructed its execution.    

A writ petition was filed with the High Court challenging the legality of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Act. Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Mohsin Rashid filed the writ petition and secretaries of the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry, the Registrar General of the Supreme Court and other concerned officials were made respondents to the writ petition. Advocate Mohsin Rashid said the writ petition has already been placed before a High Court bench led by Justice Khizir Hayat for hearing. Mohsin Rashid said the existing ICT Act is unlawful and lacked a legitimate purpose. “The only purpose of the law was its amendment and use in 2009 to carry out what I describe as judicial killings,” he claimed. Criticising the latest amendment to the ICT Act, he said “The changes introduced in 2024  turned the law into an instrument of ‘judicial murder’. It is a tribunal that kills people through judicial processes. Therefore, it should be abolished,” he said. The International Crimes Tribunal Act was enacted in 1973 to prosecute crimes against humanity committed during Bangladesh’s Liberation War. The law was amended in 2009 to allow the prosecution of both individuals and organisations and to facilitate the independent functioning of the tribunal.

Newly appointed Director General of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Md Ahsan Habib Palash on Sunday said the force has not yet received any request from the International Crimes Tribunal regarding allegations of enforced disappearances and crossfire incidents but pledged full cooperation if approached. Any request related to judicial proceedings would be duly honoured, he said a media briefing at the RAB Media Centre in the capital’s Karwan Bazar. Responding to a question about the Chief Prosecutor’s remarks on summoning and examining RAB’s crossfire records, the DG said, “If any cooperation is sought in relation to the judicial process, RAB will provide it. We will share whatever information we have and if any information is unavailable, we will inform accordingly. However, the tribunal has not yet contacted us.” On reported domestic and international calls for disbanding RAB, he said such decisions lie with the government. “RAB’s responsibility is to carry out its assigned duties properly and build public trust through its work,” he added. Addressing allegations that the force was used for political purposes in the past, the DG said recent activities suggest a decline in major irregularities. “If managed properly, RAB can play a constructive role,” he said. On tackling piracy and separatism, he said intelligence surveillance has been strengthened and operations are being conducted based on gathered information. Without directly commenting on militancy, he said RAB continues to work against all forms of terrorism and will maintain that effort in the future. Expressing concern over the rise of juvenile gangs, he said the problem is increasing across the country. “Police and RAB are working jointly, but bringing juveniles under the law often remains challenging,” he noted, urging journalists to support efforts through investigative reporting. Regarding the possible renaming or restructuring of RAB, he said it is entirely a policy matter for the government. “Our priority is to perform our duties. Internal investigations into allegations of human rights violations are ongoing, and no one will be spared,” he said. On US sanctions, the DG acknowledged that the situation stemmed from past shortcomings. “If those are addressed, we hope such sanctions will not continue in future,” he added.

The International Crimes Tribunal will conduct an internal investigation over the allegations of bribery of Tk one crore involving a prosecutor at the International Crimes Tribunal, said Chief Prosecutor of the tribunal Aminul Islam on Tuesday. The Chief Prosecutor said this at a press conference after an audio recording surfaced on social media containing a conversation between prosecutor Saimum Reza Talukder and a lawyer of former Chattogram-6 lawmaker ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury, who is an accused in a crimes against humanity case linked to the July movement. Action taken over Barishal courtroom chaos: SC The internal committee would investigate all complaints received since the formation of the tribunal, he said. Chief Prosecutor Aminul convened a closed-door meeting with the entire prosecution team on Tuesday morning which lasted over an hour.  “During my tenure, if any prosecutor or official is found involved in misconduct or corruption, strict action will be taken. There will be zero tolerance on such issues,” he said at the press conference. “Those working at the International Crimes Tribunal must rise above greed and personal gain. If one cannot do so, there is no need to remain here. Anyone can leave,” he added. “The entire judicial process of the tribunal becomes 100 percent questionable if such an allegation arises,” Aminul Islam said in response to a query from journalists. On the leaked audio, Aminul Islam said, “Even if no formal complaint reaches me, I will personally conduct an internal inquiry through the Chief Prosecutor’s office. Besides, I will form a committee to investigate all matters since the tribunal’s formation on August 5.” Any findings of wrongdoing would be reported to the authorities, he added. He also issued a warning to current and future prosecutors saying “If I receive even a small complaint against any prosecutor, consider that person gone from my office the very next day.” If I receive even a thread of an allegation against any prosecutor, you can assume that the next day he will no longer be here,” he said. According to the allegations, Saimum Reza Talukder had demanded Tk 1 crore from the family of former Awami League MP ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury in exchange for helping secure his bail in a crimes against humanity case related to incidents in Chattogram during the July uprising. Multiple audio recordings of WhatsApp conversations revealed the alleged demand for money. After the allegation surfaced, then chief prosecutor Tajul Islam removed Saimum from the case but did not take further action or relieve him of his other responsibilities at the tribunal. Later, the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry accepted Saimum’s resignation and relieved him of his duties as a prosecutor, according to a notification issued on Monday. Saimum had been appointed as a prosecutor of the tribunal on October 7, 2024.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 will deliver its verdict in the case over the killing of six people during the July Uprising of 2024 at Chankharpul in the capital on Monday. On January 20, the three-member bench of the tribunal led by its Chairman Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, deferred the verdict although it had set January 20 for delivering the judgment. Eight people are facing trial in the case. Of them, four are currently in jail: former Shahbagh Police Station inspector (operations) Md Arshad Hossain, constable Md Sujan Mia, Md Imaz Hossain Iman and Md Nasirul Islam. The four other accused are absconding. They are former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Habibur Rahman, former additional commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former additional deputy commissioner of Ramna Division Shah Alam Md Akhtarul Islam, and former assistant commissioner Mohammad Imrul. According to the prosecution, on August 5, 2024, police opened fire on a peaceful student movement at Chankharpul, leaving six people dead. Read More: Ex-BGB official, 3 others indicted over killing 28 people during July uprising The victims were Shahriar Khan Anas, Sheikh Junayed, Md Yakub, Md Rakib Hawladar, Md Ismamul Haque and Manik Mia Shahrik. After finding evidence against the accused, the tribunal on July 14 framed charges against all eight and ordered the commencement of the trial. ICT grants first bail in July Uprising crimes against humanity case

Abul Kalam Azad, a fugitive sentenced to death for crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War, surrendered to the International Crimes Tribunal on Wednesday. Azad applied to the Ministry of Home Affairs last year seeking a stay of his sentence under Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. He was sentenced to death on January 21, 2013 by International Crimes Tribunal-2. The tribunal found Azad guilty on seven of eight charges of crimes against humanity. Three of the charges carried the death penalty. The tribunal did not impose separate punishments for the remaining four charges as the death sentence superseded them. One charge was dismissed due to lack of sufficient evidence. According to the verdict, Azad was involved in the killing of 14 people, the rape of three women, the abduction of nine persons, detention of 10 individuals, arson attacks on five houses and looting of 15 homes during the Liberation War. Azad remained a fugitive at the time and could not be produced before the court. Law enforcement sources said he fled to Pakistan via India before an arrest warrant could be issued. The trial proceedings concluded on December 26, 2012, after the completion of arguments from both sides, with the verdict delivered later in his absence.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Monday issued warrants for the arrest of 12 people including former MP Shamim Osman and his son Ayan Osman in a case filed over the crimes against humanity during July-August movement. A three-member ICT bench led by its chairman Justice Golam Martuza Majumdar passed the order after taking charges into cognisance. Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim stood for the petitioner. The tribunal  also asked police to produce them before January 26 after their arrest. At least ten people were killed during on July 19, July 21 and August 5 at Fatullah-Signboard during mass uprising in 2024. International Crimes Tribunal-2  formed with Justice Nazrul Islam as chair Earlier in the day, the prosecutor submitted chargesheet against 12 people.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Thursday fixed January 20 for hearing the appeal filed seeking death penalty of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and ex-Home Minister Asaduzzaman Kamal in a case over crimes against humanity. Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Md Rezaul Haque passed the order. On December 15, last year, the state counsel filed the appeal seeking the death penalty of Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman in the case. On November 17, 2025, the International Crimes Tribunal sentenced them to death on one charge and sentenced them to imprisonment unto death on a separate charge. Read More: ICT-1 sets dates for charge framing hearing against Hasina, army officers Later, Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Tajul Islam sought the death penalty for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal in the case. On October 13 last year, the prosecution presented several documentaries as evidence which it said could play a significant role in the trial. On October 14, 2025, during the third day of arguments, the prosecution played recorded conversations involving Sheikh Hasina, ex-ministers Hasanul Haq Inu and Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, alongside presenting footage of the July-August movement and testimonies of several witnesses. Chief Investigation Officer Md. Alamgir was cross-examined by state-appointed defence lawyer Md. Amir Hossain, representing Sheikh Hasina and Kamal on the same day. The defence challenged the July massacre claims and argued that law enforcement officers were compelled to use force under duress. On July 10, 2025, former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun confessed before the tribunal admitting to crimes against humanity committed during the mass uprising. The prosecution brought five charges of crimes against humanity against the three accused.