The International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT)-2 sentenced former minister and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President Hasanul Haq Inu to 10 years in prison on Tuesday for crimes against humanity related to the killings of six individuals during the July-August mass uprising in 2024 in Kushtia.
The verdict was delivered by a three-member bench led by ICT-2 Chairman Justice Nazrul Islam.
The tribunal had previously kept the verdict pending on May 14 following the conclusion of arguments on legal points from both the prosecution and the defense.
Legal proceedings against Inu commenced after the prosecution submitted an investigation report on September 11, 2025, with testimony recording beginning on November 30.
Throughout the trial, 10 prosecution witnesses and two defense witnesses provided testimonies.
The case stems from the tragic events of August 5, 2024, when six protesters—Ashraful Islam, Suruj Ali Babu, student Abdullah Al Mustakin, Osama, businessman Bablu Farazi, and employee Yusuf Sheikh—were shot dead at various locations across Kushtia town.
Following an investigation, the prosecution brought eight counts of formal charges against Inu.
One primary charge centers on his role as the president of JSD, a key partner in the then-ruling 14-party alliance, alleging he utilized his high-ranking political position to encourage the suppression of the movement.
Prosecutors highlighted that in an interview with the Mumbai-based Indian outlet Mirror Now on July 18, 2024, Inu labeled protesters as "members of the BNP, Jamaat, terrorists and communal forces" in an effort to discredit the movement and incite the use of force.
A second critical charge involves a meeting held on July 19, 2024, at Ganabhaban, chaired by Sheikh Hasina, which Inu attended.
The meeting reportedly decided to deploy the military nationwide to suppress the quota reform and anti-discrimination student movement, issuing orders for security forces to shoot unarmed, peaceful protesters on sight.
According to the tribunal's findings, Inu was "directly involved in making and implementing that decision and instructed its execution" as a senior partner in the ruling alliance.
