Hasanul Haq Inu sentenced to 10 years for crimes against humanity

The International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced Hasanul Haq Inu, president of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASOD) and former information minister, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in a crimes against humanity case over the killing of six people in Kushtia during the July 2024 mass uprising. He has also been fined Tk 2 lakh.

The verdict was delivered by a three-member judicial panel of the International Crimes Tribunal-2, led by Chairman Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, on Tuesday afternoon, June 30.

In his immediate reaction, Inu termed it a "scripted verdict" and said he was being punished through a "farce of a trial," but added that he felt relief from a long ordeal.

Inu faced eight charges. The tribunal sentenced him to 10 years on charge number three, while on charges six and seven, he was sentenced to 10 years each and fined Tk 1 lakh on each count. He was acquitted on charges one, two, four, five and eight. Although sentenced separately, he will serve a total of 10 years.

Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam, along with prosecutors Mizanul Islam, Gazi M H Tamim, Faruk Ahammed and Abdus Sattar Palowan, were present at the tribunal.

The tribunal had set June 30 for the verdict on June 22. Earlier, on May 14, the case was kept pending for judgment after both sides concluded their arguments.

According to case documents, Inu was accused of involvement in the killing of six people in Kushtia and inciting violence against protesters during the July 2024 uprising. The investigation began on March 25, 2025, and the investigation report was submitted to the tribunal on September 11 that year.

On November 2 last year, the tribunal framed charges and ordered the trial to begin. The prosecution presented 10 witnesses, while the defence presented two.

The six victims in Kushtia were labourer Ashraful Islam, Suruj Ali Babu, students Abdullah Al Mustakin and Osama, businessman Bablu Forazi and service holder Yusuf Sheikh.

Inu was arrested from the capital's Uttara area on August 26, 2024, following the fall of the banned Awami League government.