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The prosecution has concluded its arguments seeking the highest punishment for Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif and three other party leaders in a crimes against humanity case over the killing of six people in Kushtia during the July 2024 mass uprising.
The demand was made on Monday before a two-member bench of International Crimes Tribunal-2, headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, with Judge Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir as the other member.
Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim presented the prosecution’s arguments, assisted by prosecutors Faruk Ahmed, Shahidul Islam Sardar and Abdus Sattar Palwan, among others.
Tamim said the prosecution had previously completed its arguments in the case but submitted additional evidence, leading to the arguments being presented again.
“We have sought the highest punishment for all four accused,” he said.
The prosecutor alleged that Hanif, as a joint general secretary of the Awami League, accepted decisions taken to suppress the July uprising and helped implement them through subordinates. He described Hanif as a civilian leader who allegedly issued instructions through his subordinates and telephone conversations.
Tamim also alleged that Hanif participated in decisions related to the suppression of the movement and supported former Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader at meetings. He said the prosecution had submitted telephone conversations in which Hanif allegedly instructed the Kushtia superintendent of police, district and upazila chairmen and party leaders regarding the violence.
The other accused are Kushtia district Awami League President Sadar Uddin Khan, General Secretary Azgar Ali and Kushtia city Awami League General Secretary Ataur Rahman Ata. All four are absconding and are being tried in absentia.
The tribunal had earlier reserved the case for judgment after the prosecution and defence completed their arguments in June. The prosecution had also sought the highest punishment at that stage.
The case involves allegations of incitement, conspiracy and involvement in the killing of six people in Kushtia during the July-August 2024 uprising. Nineteen prosecution witnesses, including the investigation officer, testified in the case.