The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Sunday charged detained Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal鈥揓asod president Hasanul Haq Inu, absconding Awami League joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif and three other absconding Kushtia AL leaders with crimes against humanity in two cases over the July uprising atrocities in the district.
The three Kushtia Awami League leaders are district unit president Md Sadar Uddin Khan, general secretary Md Ali Asgar Ali, and town unit general secretary Ataur Rahman Ata.
The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury, charged Hanif and three other Awami League leaders in their absence in one case聽 and set November 25 for the commencement of their trial in the case by recording testimonies of prosecution witnesses.
The tribunal also set November 30 for beginning witness鈥� depositions in the case against Inu.
The Jasod leader, from the dock, claimed his innocence and told the tribunal that he was a victim of a political vendetta and that the case against him was based on false allegations.
As Inu said that he had not heard all the charges read out, the tribunal told him, 鈥榊ou will go through them once the prosecution provides a copy of the order鈥�.
Inu said that the chief adviser of the interim government had publicly stated on at least two occasions that 鈥榝ictitious鈥� cases were being filed, and even the law adviser had expressed concern over the growing number of such politically motivated cases.
鈥楾he law adviser said that the storm of fictitious cases cannot be stopped. I was happy to hear such statements,鈥� Inu said.
He informed the tribunal that 60 cases were pending against him in the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Court, and that similar false allegations had now been brought before the tribunal.
鈥業 am a victim of political persecution. This case is part of that,鈥� he said, adding, 鈥業 consider you representatives of justice after Allah. I believe you will ensure justice for me. I am completely innocent.鈥�
Both Inu and Hanif are accused of bearing superior command responsibilities for killings and attacks carried out in Kushtia during the 2024 mass uprising.
On September 25, the prosecution filed eight counts of crimes against humanity charges against Inu and Hanif, including the killing of six protesters in Kushtia on August 5, 2024.
The victims are labourer Ashraful Islam, trader Babul Farazi, office employee Yunus, and students Abdullah Al Mustakin and Md Usama, and Suruz Ali Babu.
Senior lawyer Munsurul Haque Chowdhury appeared for Inu, while state-appointed counsel Amir Hossain represented Hanif and his three co-accused.
Chief prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam, along with prosecutors Abdus Sobhan Tarafder and Mizanul Islam, appeared for the state.
Inu and Hanif, both former lawmakers for separate constituencies in Kushtia district, are close aides of the deposed prime minister and Awami League president, Sheikh Hasina.
Hasina fled to India for shelter on August 5, 2024, the day when she was ousted from power amid a student-led mass uprising.