Staff Reporter:
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) will deliver its verdict on October 29 in a case filed against four people, including Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, over the killing of six people in Kushtia during the July 2024 uprising.
The three-member ICT-2, chaired by Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury, fixed the date on Tuesday.
Earlier on October 7, the ICT-2 completed the hearing on the law-point arguments in the case and kept the judgement reserved for a later date.
The three others accused are former Chairman of Kushtia Zila Parishad Sadar Uddin Khan, General Secretary of Kushita district Awami League Asgar Ali and General Secretary of Kushtia municipality Awami League. All of them are absconding.
Three charges were brought against them, including six murders in Kushtia, during the July uprising.
The charges include supporting statements and positions taken by Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader to suppress the movement, issuing orders to kill students and members of the public and participating in a conspiracy at a meeting held in Kushtia on July 29, 2024 and involvement in the killing of six people in Kushtia during the movement.
Hanif was also accused of instructing local police officials, public representatives and party activists over the telephone to carry out the killings.
The prosecution sought the maximum punishment for all four accused.
The prosecution formally filed charges against the four accused on October 5 last year. The following day, on October 6, the tribunal took cognisance of charges and issued arrest warrants for the accused.
On November 2 last year, the ICT framed charges against them, ordering the formal trial to begin.
