The International Crimes Tribunal-2 will deliver its verdict any day in the crimes against humanity case against former minister Hasanul Haq Inu, as arguments from both the prosecution and defence concluded on Thursday.
The three-member tribunal, led by retired High Court judge Nozrul Islam Chowdhury, said that the verdict would be delivered on any day.
Inu is the sole accused in the case filed over the killings of six people in Kushtia during the July Uprising.
The investigation agency of the ICT filed the charges following their probe report, which was submitted to the prosecution. The ICT-2 formally took cognizance of the charges on September 25 in 2025.
The tribunal formally framed eight charges of crimes against humanity and ordered the start of the trial on November 2, 2025.
During the closing arguments, chief prosecutor Md Aminul Islam sought the death penalty for Inu, saying that the prosecution had proved all charges brought against him.
Defence lawyer Munsurul Hoque Chowdhury, however, pleaded for Inu's acquittal, arguing that the prosecution had failed to prove the allegations
They, placing their case summing up arguments, also said that the prosecution had utterly failed to prove any direct involvement or incitement by their client in the crimes, linked to the July-August 2024 mass uprising, for which Inu faced the trial.
According to the prosecutor, eight charges were submitted to the ICT-2, implicating Inu in a wide-ranging conspiracy involving senior Awami League leaders, local party leaders, and law enforcement agencies to suppress a nationwide movement demanding the resignation of the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
The first charge relates to a July 18, 2024 interview with India-based Mirror Now, where Inu urged the government to use force against protesters, portraying them as 'BNP, Jamaat, criminals, and communal.'
According to the second charge, Inu attended a July 19, 2024 meeting at Ganabhaban that decided to deploy the army and impose a curfew with shoot-on-sight powers.
The third charge alleges that Inu phoned the Kushtia superintendent of police on July 20, 2024 ordering the police to identify, track, and act against protesters using photos. He approved both torture and killings.
The fourth charge states that Inu conspired with Hasina to use the army, helicopters, and bombings to block and attack protesters. He supported Hasina's decision to declare a curfew on July 20, 2024 and to use deadly force.
According to the fifth charge, on July 27, 2024, Inu made inflammatory remarks in an interview with News24, again terming the protesters 'BNP-Jamaat' and supporting the use of curfew and lethal weapons.
The sixth charge says that Inu was present at a July 29, 2024 meeting, chaired by Hasina, where protesters were labeled as BNP, Jamaat, criminals and communal forces allegedly intending to delegitimise the movement and justify repression.
According to the seventh charge, Inu maintained close contact with Hasina and played a key role in approving a curfew on August 4, 2024, which included shoot-at-sight orders.
According to the eighth charge, on August 5, 2024, under the leadership and coordination of Inu and others, Awami League leaders and activists opened fire on unarmed protesters in Kushtia, with assistance and cover from the police.
According to the eighth charge, on August 5, 2024, under the leadership and coordination of Inu and others, Awami League leaders and activists opened fire on unarmed protesters in Kushtia, with assistance and cover from the police.
Of the victims, labourer Ashraful Islam was killed near Bak Square, Suruz Ali Babu on Barmiz Lane, students Abdullah Al Mustakin and Md Usama at Haripur-bound Road's Arot, trader Babul Farazi on at Tula Patti Lane, and job holder Yunus near the Fire Service office.
