Bangladesh Tribunal Sentences Awami League Leader to Death for Crimes Against Humanity
Awami League leader Mahbubul Alam Hanif receives death penalty for involvement in July 2024 uprising; three others sentenced to life imprisonment.
Dhaka, October 29 (Daily Kiran) : The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Bangladesh has sentenced Mahbubul Alam Hanif, the joint general secretary of the Awami League, to death for crimes against humanity linked to the July 2024 uprising. This ruling was announced on Thursday, as reported by local media.
Alongside Hanif, three other Awami League leaders—Sadar Uddin Khan, Azgar Ali, and Ataur Rahman Ata—received life sentences. A three-member panel led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury found Hanif guilty on six counts under the first charge, leading to the death penalty. He also received life imprisonment for two additional charges.
The other three defendants were similarly found guilty on multiple counts and sentenced to life in prison. According to the Dhaka Tribune, all four accused are currently fugitives. This verdict comes amid increasing legal actions against Awami League leaders, with several senior party figures having already received death sentences in connection with the July 2024 events.
Last month, the tribunal sentenced Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and six other senior leaders associated with the party to death for crimes against humanity related to the uprising. Following that decision, the Awami League dismissed the sentences as “one-sided, biased, and fabricated.” The party accused the tribunal of being misused to eliminate political dissent.
The Awami League also questioned the legitimacy of the proceedings, noting that none of the accused were present during the trial. They argued that international criminal law mandates certain legal protections, including the right to choose legal representation, which they claim were ignored by the tribunal.
The party asserted that the judicial process was rushed and violated fundamental principles of international human rights and criminal law. They criticized the culture of impunity and political retribution fostered by these proceedings, claiming that not only the recent ruling but also all tribunal activities since August 5, 2024, represent serious violations of international law and human rights.
