The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Tuesday set November 2 to give its decision on whether the proposed charges of crimes against humanity would be framed against detained Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal鈥揓asod president Hasanul Haq Inu, and absconding Awami League joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif and three other leaders of Kushtia Awami League.
Inu and Hanif, both former lawmakers from two constituencies in Kushtia, are two close aid of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and are accused of superior command responsibilities for killings and attacks in Kushtia during the July 2024 mass uprising.
The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury, set the date after hearing the charges presented by chief prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam.
Inu was in the dock.
Senior lawyer Munsurul Hoque Chowdhury represented Inu while fugitive Hanif was represented by state-appointed defence counsel Amir Hossain.
Both defence lawyers sought their clients鈥� discharge, arguing that the prosecution failed to establish any elements of superior command responsibilities or their complicity in the alleged crimes.
Munsurul Hoque argued that the prosecution submitted audio conversation between the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina and Inu, showed that Inu advised imposing a curfew to curb the movement of protesters and detaining demonstrators temporarily before releasing them to return home.
He termed Inu鈥檚 action lawful.
On October 5, the prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunals filed formal charges against Hanif and three other AL leaders 鈥� Kushtia district Awami League president Md Sadar Uddin Khan, general secretary Md Ali Asgar Ali, and Kushtia town Awami League general secretary Ataur Rahman Ata.
On September 25, the tribunal received from the prosecution eight counts of crimes against humanity charges against Inu.
Those charges against Inu and Hanif include the killing of the six protesters in Kushtia.
On August 5, 2024, six people were shot dead in separate incidents across Kushtia.
The victims were identified as labourer Ashraful Islam, trader Babul Farazi, job holder Yunus, and students Abdullah Al Mustakin and Md Usama, and Suruz Ali Babu.
