Dhaka, Sep 16:
Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal on Tuesday sentenced seven senior leaders of the banned Awami League to death for their alleged roles in directing, inciting or facilitating violence during the 2024 student-led protests that eventually toppled Sheikh Hasina’s government.
The three-member ICT-2, headed by Justice Mohammad Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, delivered the verdict against the seven accused, who were tried in absentia. Those sentenced include Awami League General Secretary and former Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader, Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim and former State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat.
The other four are Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, its General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, Bangladesh Chhatra League President Saddam Hussain and its General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Enan. The tribunal framed seven charges on January 22 and began the trial on February 17. All seven were represented by state-appointed defence lawyers. The verdict comes about 10 months after former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was also sentenced to death in a separate case arising from the 2024 protests.