Original Report published in the Daily Sun on 03 June, 2026.
Bangladesh
CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
ICT verdict in Inu trial over Kushtia massacre likely next week
Ehsanul Haque Jasim
Updated: 03 Jun 2026, 08:39 AM
File Photo
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is likely to deliver its verdict any day, most likely next week, in the crimes against humanity case filed against former president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) and former information minister Hasanul Haq Inu over the Kushtia mass killing, said sources.
ICT Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam had said that the verdicts in two crimes against humanity cases are likely to be delivered after Eid-ul-Azha. One of the cases was filed against Inu over the killing of six people in Kushtia during the 2024 mass uprising, while another case was filed against five former police officers over the killing of two people and the shooting of a youth in Rampura in the capital.
An ICT prosecutor on Tuesday (2 June) told this correspondent that the verdict in the Inu trial is likely to be delivered in a week. So, the verdict in the case is likely to be pronounced next week.
The two cases out of the 22 cases currently under trial at the ICT are awaiting verdicts in June while investigations into 31 cases are at the final stage. Investigations into 150 other cases involving enforced disappearances, killings and crossfire incidents are also underway.
Two ICT tribunals have so far delivered verdicts in five crimes against humanity cases, including the one against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Inu is the sole accused in one of the crimes against humanity cases. However, another crime against humanity case is ongoing in the ICT over the killing of six people in Kushtia on 5 August 2024, the day of Hasina’s downfall.
According to the charge-sheet, the six people killed in Kushtia town are Ashraful Islam (labourer), Suruj Ali Babu, Abdullah Al Mustakin (student), Md Usama (student), Bablu Faraji (businessman) and Yusuf Sheikh (service-holder).
The three-member ICT-2 bench, headed by its chairman Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, took cognisance of the charges on 25 September 2025 after the prosecution submitted formal charges based on the investigation agency’s probe report.
On 2 November 2025, the tribunal framed eight charges of crimes against humanity against Inu and ordered the trial to begin. Ten prosecution witnesses, including the investigation officer, testified in the case.
The ICT-2 on 14 May placed the case on the judgment list. After concluding arguments, the tribunal had kept the verdict pending (on CAV); this means the judgment can now be delivered on any upcoming day.
The prosecution had sought the death penalty, citing Inu’s alleged superior command responsibility and involvement in a criminal conspiracy. They argued that Inu instigated violence, maintained close ties with Hasina, and conspired to violently suppress protesters.
However, defence lawyers argued that Inu held no constitutional or administrative position during the 2024 mass uprising, was not present in Kushtia at the time of the killings, and requested his acquittal.
ICT prosecutor Shyikh Mahdi said that the prosecution had clearly proved the charges against Inu through evidence and sought appropriate punishment. As a politician, Inu took a position against innocent people and the JSD leader was involved in various plans to suppress the people. He even assisted in carrying out oppression by branding people as militants, he added.
On 26 August 2024, Inu was detained and later shown arrested in the crimes against humanity case.
He served as information minister during the Awami League government and contested the 12th national parliamentary elections as a candidate of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance, but was defeated by a rebel candidate.
The reporter can be reached at: ehsan.jasim@gmail.com