ICT Verdicts Mark New Era of Accountability in Bangladesh

As Bangladesh prepares to observe July Mass Uprising Day on August 5, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has delivered a series of landmark verdicts in cases linked to crimes against humanity committed during the 2024 July Uprising, marking significant progress in the country's pursuit of justice.

So far, the two tribunals have concluded six major cases, handing down 16 death sentences, 11 life imprisonment terms and several other prison sentences against individuals found guilty of involvement in the crackdown on protesters.

ICT Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam said the reconstituted tribunal has largely fulfilled its commitment to ensuring justice for the martyrs and injured within a comparatively short period.

He said trials in several other cases are progressing and expressed hope that all crimes against humanity committed during the July-August 2024 events would be brought to justice.

The tribunal's first landmark verdict came on November 27, 2025, when ICT-1 sentenced former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death. The tribunal also ordered the confiscation of their assets to compensate victims' families. Former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who testified as a state witness, received a five-year prison sentence.

On January 26, 2026, ICT-1 delivered its verdict in the Chankharpul killings, sentencing former Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Habibur Rahman, former joint commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty and former additional deputy commissioner Shah Alam Md Akhtarul Islam to death. Several other police officials received prison terms ranging from three to six years.

In the Ashulia body-burning case, ICT-2 sentenced six people, including former MP Muhammad Saiful Islam and former officer-in-charge AFM Sayed Roni, to death on February 5, 2026. Seven others, including former senior police officials, were sentenced to life imprisonment, while two accused received seven-year jail terms. One accused was pardoned after becoming an approver.

On April 9, 2026, the tribunal sentenced former assistant sub-inspector Md Amir Hossain and former constable Sujan Chandra Roy to death in the killing of Abu Sayed. Three other police officials received life imprisonment, while several university officials were sentenced to prison terms ranging from three to ten years.

In the Rampura shooting case, ICT sentenced three accused, including former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman and former officer-in-charge Md Mashiur Rahman, to death on June 28, 2026. Another accused received life imprisonment, while a former assistant sub-inspector was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

On June 30, 2026, the tribunal also sentenced Jasad President and former minister Hasanul Haq Inu to 10 years' imprisonment over command responsibility and involvement in killings in Kushtia during the July Uprising.

The tribunals continue to hear additional cases related to the July-August 2024 violence as legal proceedings move forward to ensure accountability for crimes against humanity.