Kushtia Killings Verdict looms for Hanif, AL leaders

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 will deliver its verdict in any day as it concluded the concluded the trial proceedings on Wednesday against Awami League joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif and three others in connection with the cases filed for crimes against humanity committed during the July 2024 Mass Uprising.

The three-member ICT-2 headed by retired High Court judge Nozrul Islam Chowdhury announced the closure of the trial and said that the verdict would be delivered on a date to be announced later.

Hanif, who is being tried in absentia, faces charges of command responsibility for alleged crimes against humanity committed in Kushtia during the July-August 2024 mass uprising.

The other accused are 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. All four accused remain absconding.

State-appointed defence counsel Amir Hossain sought acquittal of the accused, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

Chief prosecutor Md Aminul Islam, however, contended that Hanif, as a senior political leader, did not need to be physically present at the crime scene to incur criminal liability. He argued that Hanif had allegedly instructed and provoked party activists to commit the offences and therefore bore command responsibility for the crimes.