Hearing on charges against Inu on Oct 14

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has scheduled October 14 for a hearing on the formal framing of charges against former information minister and JSD President Hasanul Haq Inu.

The decision came on Monday, September 29, in the presence of Tribunal-2 chairman justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury and other members. Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim appeared for the state, while barrister Nazneen Nahar represented Inu.

The prosecution had sought one week’s time to prepare, while the defence requested two additional days. Following the hearing, the tribunal fixed 14 October as the date for charge framing.

On 25 September, the tribunal ordered Inu to appear in person. On the same day, prosecutors submitted not seven but eight specific charges against him, alleging his involvement in the killing and mass murder of six people in Kushtia during July-August.

Inu was arrested from Uttara in the capital on August 26 last year. He remains in prison facing multiple cases. While he served as information minister under the Awami League government, he lost the 12th parliamentary election in Kushtia to an Awami League rebel candidate despite being a nominee of the ruling coalition.

The case was filed with the tribunal following an investigation into the killing of six people during the Kushtia movement. After submission of the investigation report, the prosecution filed formal charges, now set for hearing on October 14.