Hanif to die, 3 get prison until death

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Thursday sentenced Awami League (AL) joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif to death and three of his associates to imprisonment until death in a crimes against humanity case over the killing of six people in Kushtia during the July Uprising in 2024.

A three-member bench of the tribunal, headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, delivered the verdict after concluding the trial. All four convicts are absconding.

The tribunal also sentenced Hanif, Sadar Uddin Khan, Azgar Ali and Ataur Rahman Ata to life imprisonment on separate charges relating to the killings.

Sadar Uddin is president of Kushtia district Awami League, Azgar Ali is the district party's general secretary, and Ataur Rahman Ata is general secretary of Kushtia city Awami League.

The prosecution concluded its arguments on October 5, seeking the maximum punishment for all four accused. The tribunal framed charges against them on November 2, 2025.

The tribunal found Hanif guilty on counts 1�"6 under Charge No. 1 and sentenced him to death under Sections 3(2)(a), 3(2)(g), 3(2)(h), 4(1), 4(2), 4(3) and 20(2) of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973.

Sadar Uddin Khan, Azgar Ali and Ataur Rahman Ata were sentenced to imprisonment until death after being found guilty on the same counts under the same provisions of the law.

All four were also sentenced to life imprisonment under Charges No. 2 and 3. For Charges No. 4 and 5, which the tribunal considered together, they were again found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment under the same provisions of the 1973 law.

The tribunal ordered the confiscation of half of the immovable property owned by each convict. It directed that the proceeds from the sale of the confiscated properties be distributed as compensation to those killed or injured during the July 2024 uprising through the July Foundation or another statutory body.

Welcoming the verdict, Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam described it as timely and paid tribute to the July martyrs.
Aminul said Hanif had worked alongside then Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader and supported the use of lethal weapons and indiscriminate firing to suppress the student-led movement. He also alleged that Hanif had instructed party leaders and activists to use force at a meeting of the Kushtia district Awami League.