Inu gets 10 years’ jail

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 on Tuesday sentenced Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD) President and former information minister Hasanul Haq Inu to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined him Tk 200,000 after convicting on three charges of crimes against humanity committed
during the July 2024 mass uprising.

The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, delivered the verdict, convicting Inu on three of the eight charges brought against him.

According to the judgment, Charges 3, 6 and 7 were proved beyond reasonable doubt, while the remaining five charges were not established.

Charge No. 3 said that on 20 July 2024, Inu allegedly identified protesters through video footage and instructed subordinates to arrest, torture and kill demonstrators in an effort to suppress the anti-government movement.

Under Charge No. 6, the tribunal found that during a meeting of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance on 29 July 2024, Inu was present when a decision was taken to portray the protesters as members of Jamaat-e-Islami, terrorists and communal elements.

The prosecution alleged that the move, including the decision to ban Jamaat was intended to justify the crackdown on protesters and amounted to incitement, assistance and participation in killings and torture.

Charge No. 7 concerned allegations that on 4 August 2024, Inu consulted with the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina before authorities imposed a curfew and labelled the peaceful student-led movement as militant.

The tribunal, however, did not convict Inu on the remaining five charges.

Charge No. 1 alleged that during an interview with the Indian media outlet Mirror Now on July 18, 2024, Inu described protesters as Jamaat members, terrorists and communal forces, and incited the use of force against them.

Charge No. 2 accused him of ordering a “shoot-at-sight” policy after a curfew was imposed on July 19, 2024, resulting in the killing of unarmed demonstrators.

Charge No. 4 alleged that on July 20, 2024, Inu participated in planning the use of lethal weapons, including helicopter attacks and live ammunition, to suppress the movement through killings, arrests and torture.

Charge No. 5 alleged that during an appearance on News24 on July 27, 2024, he referred to protesters as BNP activists, Jamaat members, terrorists and militants, while endorsing and supporting the government’s violent crackdown.

Charge No. 8 alleged that on August 5, 2024, six people, including teenager Abdullah Al Mustakin, were killed in Kushtia Sadar during the quota reform and anti-discrimination movement.

The case was filed over allegations of crimes against humanity committed during the July 2024 mass uprising.

The tribunal found Inu guilty on three charges and sentenced him to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Tk 200,000.