ICT orders trial against Inu over six Kushtia killings

Former Information Minister and Jasad president Hasanul Haq Inu.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2) on Sunday ordered the commencement of trial against former Information Minister and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad) president Hasanul Haq Inu over the killing of six people in Kushtia during last year’s uprising.

A three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, framed eight charges of crimes against humanity against him.

The court fixed November 30 for the presentation of opening statements and witness testimonies.

During the proceedings, the tribunal read out the charges and asked whether Inu pleaded guilty. He denied all allegations, asserting his innocence, after which the tribunal formally framed the charges and issued the trial order.

Inu, brought to the dock from the detention centre around 11:30am, was accused of ordering the killings after communicating with then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the uprising.

Earlier, on October 23, the prosecution submitted formal charges and sought the trial’s initiation. Inu’s lawyer, Monsurul Haq Chowdhury, later petitioned for dismissal of the case, claiming the allegations were baseless.

The prosecution, however, argued that Inu could not avoid responsibility as a key leader of the 14-party alliance.

The former minister was arrested on August 26 last year from Uttara, Dhaka, and remains in prison facing multiple cases, reports UNB.