Bangladesh Court Sentences AL Leader to Death Over Six Killings
News Desk
Dhaka: Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal-2 has sentenced Awami League Joint General Secretary Mehboob Alam Hanif to death in a case involving the killing of six people in Kushtia during the July 2024 student uprising. Three other Awami League leaders have been sentenced to life imprisonment in the same case.
According to Bangladeshi media reports, the verdict was announced on Thursday by a three-member bench of the tribunal, which handles cases involving crimes against humanity.
The case relates to the deaths of six people in Kushtia during the student-led protests against the government of the Awami League in July and August 2024.
The prosecution concluded its arguments on October 5, seeking the maximum punishment for all four accused. All four leaders are reportedly absconding.
Alongside Hanif’s death sentence, the tribunal sentenced Sadruddin Khan, the Awami League’s district president and former chairman of the Zilla Parishad; district general secretary Asghar Ali; and city general secretary Ataur Rehman Atta to life imprisonment.
The tribunal also ordered the confiscation of half of the immovable property belonging to the four convicted leaders. It directed that proceeds from the sale of the properties be distributed as compensation to the families of those killed and people injured during the July 2024 uprising, through the July Foundation or another relevant government body.
Charges Against Hanif and Other Leaders
According to the prosecution, one of the charges against Hanif concerned his alleged endorsement of inflammatory statements by then Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader. Prosecutors argued that describing protesters as criminals and sectarians contributed to incitement against the demonstrators.
The prosecution further alleged that, during a party meeting in Kushtia on July 27, 2024, Hanif instructed the three other accused leaders to use force to suppress the protest movement and facilitated attacks against demonstrators.
Prosecutors also alleged that, on August 5, 2024, the accused, with the assistance of local political leaders and police, were involved in firing on unarmed protesters, resulting in six deaths and several serious injuries.
The broader crackdown on the student movement, which began over a government job quota system, left at least 1,400 people dead and more than 25,000 injured, according to figures cited by the prosecution.
Sheikh Hasina Also Sentenced to Death
The verdict comes amid wider legal proceedings against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina over the crackdown on the 2024 student uprising.
In November 2025, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Hasina to death in a separate case involving crimes against humanity. She was accused of ordering security forces to use lethal force against protesters demanding reforms to the government job quota system.
The demonstrations eventually expanded into a nationwide movement against Hasina’s 15-year rule. She was ousted on August 5, 2024, and fled to neighbouring India, where she has remained, according to reports.
The latest verdict adds to the legal proceedings against former Awami League officials over their alleged roles in the violent suppression of the 2024 protests.
