The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has announced that the verdict in the crimes against humanity case against four individuals, including banned Awami League joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, will be delivered this coming Thursday. The tribunal issued the order on Tuesday, setting the stage for a crucial judicial decision stemming from the July mass uprising.
The other three accused in the high-profile case are former Kushtia Zilla Parishad chairman Sadar Uddin Khan, Kushtia district Awami League general secretary Asgar Ali, and Kushtia municipality Awami League general secretary Ataur Rahman. Notably, all four defendants have been evading justice and remain fugitives since the inception of the legal proceedings, leading to a trial held in absentia.
According to the prosecution, the charges against the accused encompass three major counts, including the brutal killing of six individuals in Kushtia town during the July mass uprising. Furthermore, the accused have been directly implicated in orchestrating and leading violent attacks against student protesters and ordinary citizens who took to the streets to demand political change.
Earlier on June 10, the tribunal had initially reserved its judgment, indicating that the verdict could be delivered at any time. However, the prosecution subsequently brought forward additional witnesses and documentary evidence. Following this, both the prosecution and state-appointed defense counsels presented their final arguments based on the new evidence, which formally concluded on October 7.
With all legal procedures now complete, the tribunal finalized Thursday for the pronouncement of the verdict. This upcoming judgment is widely anticipated as a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to ensure accountability and deliver justice for the victims and families affected by the violence during the historic uprising.
