Dbarta24 Report — The International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2) on Tuesday sentenced seven top leaders of the outlawed Awami League and its associate organizations to death for crimes against humanity committed during the July 2024 mass uprising.
A three-member panel headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury pronounced the verdict. The other two judges on the bench were Judge Md. Monjurul Basid and Judge Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.
All seven convicts were tried in absentia as they remain absconding.
The Convicted Leaders
The individuals sentenced to death in the landmark judgment are:
-
Obaidul Quader — General Secretary of the outlawed Awami League and former Minister.
-
A F M Bahauddin Nasim — Joint General Secretary of the Awami League.
-
Mohammad Ali Arafat — Former State Minister for Information and Broadcasting.
-
Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash — President of Jubo League.
-
Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil — General Secretary of Jubo League.
-
Saddam Hossain — President of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).
-
Sheikh Wali Asif Inan — General Secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).
Legal Proceedings and Timeline
The verdict follows the conclusion of final arguments on Monday, during which Prosecutor Gazi M.H. Tamim requested the maximum penalty of death alongside the confiscation of the accused’s property. In contrast, state-appointed defense counsels Hasan Imam and Ishrat Jahan Ani pleaded for their clients’ acquittal, claiming a lack of direct evidence linking them to the alleged crimes.
The trial officially commenced in January 2026, when the tribunal formally framed charges against the seven leaders after rejecting discharge applications submitted by the defense.
The prosecution submitted formal charges against the accused on December 18, 2025, which were subsequently accepted by the court. Following the issuance of arrest warrants, law enforcement authorities reported that none of the accused could be located at their known addresses. On December 30, 2025, the tribunal ordered newspaper notices directing the absconding leaders to present themselves before the court.
During hearings on January 18, 2026, Prosecutors Mizanul Islam and Gazi M.H. Tamim outlined individual responsibilities, placing particular emphasis on three specific allegations brought against former Minister Obaidul Quader. State defense lawyers argued during those proceedings that their clients had no involvement in the atrocities and requested the dismissal of all charges.
Tuesday’s sentencing marks a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s legal and political landscape following the events of the July 2024 uprising. Law enforcement agencies continue their efforts to locate and arrest the absconding political figures to carry out the tribunal’s execution mandate.