The prosecution has formally filed charges against Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD) president Hasanul Haq Inu over the killing of seven people in Kushtia during the July Movement, accusing him of crimes against humanity.
The 39-page charge sheet was submitted on Thursday to International Crimes Tribunal-2, headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury. The tribunal has fixed 29 September for a hearing on charge framing and ordered Inu to be produced in court on that date, prosecutor Mizanul Islam said.
Inu was arrested in August last year from Uttara, Dhaka, and has since been interrogated in police custody in connection with multiple cases.
“We have filed eight formal charges against Hasanul Haq Inu, whom Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina once called her ‘battlefield comrade,’” said prosecutor Mizanul Islam. “The tribunal has accepted the charges and issued a production warrant for him since he is detained in another case.”
According to the prosecution, Inu—leader of one of the key allies of the ruling Awami League—maintained regular contact with Sheikh Hasina and provided her with political advice. He allegedly instructed local officials, party cadres and law enforcement agencies to commit various crimes during the unrest.
The prosecution has also submitted to the tribunal alleged phone conversations between Sheikh Hasina and Hasanul Haq Inu, which were presented earlier at Tribunal-1 along with expert opinions and transcripts.
Mizanul Islam said Inu had given interviews to India’s Mirror Now, Bangladesh’s News 24, and other electronic media outlets, which the prosecution is also citing in the case.
The tribunal is expected to take up the matter of charge framing on 29 September.
