Quader, six other AL heavyweights condemned to gallows over July Uprising atrocities
The tribunal ordered half of the assets of Quader, Nasim, Arafat, Parash, and Nikhil to be confiscated and distributed as compensation to the families of those killed and injured in the July Uprising.
The International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and six others to death for crimes against humanity committed during the 2024 July Uprising.
The three-member International Crimes Tribunal-2, headed by Justice Md Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, delivered its verdict today (15 September).
The six other accused – Awami League Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, former state minister for information and broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat, Jubo League President Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, General Secretary Moinul Hossain Khan Nikhil, Chhatra League President Saddam Hussain and General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Enan – were also given the death penalty for murder, incitement, provocation and conspiracy.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
All seven are currently absconding.
The tribunal ordered the confiscation of half the assets of Quader, Nasim, Arafat, Parash and Nikhil.
It also ordered that the confiscated assets be distributed as compensation among the families of those killed and injured during the July Uprising.
The recording of evidence concluded on 2 August, with 29 prosecution witnesses, including the investigating officer, testifying in the case.
Yesterday, International Crimes Tribunal-2 set the date to announce its verdict in the case.
On 22 January, the tribunal framed charges against the seven and ordered the trial to begin. Earlier, on 18 December last year, the same tribunal had taken cognisance of the formal charges submitted by the prosecution.
According to the prosecution, the accused jointly issued directives and made provocative and inciting statements to suppress the July Uprising. They also held several meetings to plan violence and called on party leaders and activists to take to the streets and build resistance against the protesters.
The prosecution further alleged that they had played roles in armed attacks, severe repression and controlling the media in some areas.
Their actions resulted in killings, attempted killings and widespread violence across the country, which constitute crimes against humanity punishable under the law, according to the prosecution.
Sheikh Hasina, president of the activities-banned Awami League and the ousted prime minister, was sentenced to death on 17 November last year for crimes against humanity committed during the uprising. The verdict against Obaidul Quader and six other accused comes nearly 10 months later.
The Awami League regime fell on 5 August 2024 amid the July Uprising.
The reconstituted International Crimes Tribunal subsequently began trying cases of crimes against humanity committed during the movement.
Today's verdict is the seventh in cases related to the mass uprising.
Across the seven verdicts delivered by the two tribunals, 68 accused have been sentenced. Of them, 22 – including Hasina, Quader and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan – have been sentenced to death. Of these 22, 18 are fugitives, while four are in custody, reports Prothom Alo.
Here are the crimes for which the seven were convicted by ICT-2:
Obaidul Quader
As General Secretary of the Bangladesh Awami League, former Minister for Road Transport and Bridges, and a key member of the executive "Gang of Four", Obaidul Quader was convicted of crimes against humanity for directly ordering, inciting, conspiring, abetting and failing to prevent systematic state violence against peaceful student protesters during the July 2024 Mass Uprising.
On 11 July 2024, he directly instructed then Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) President Md Saddam Hossain over the telephone to violently suppress the movement, asking, "Why aren't you hitting them, why show them indulgence?"
On 15 July, he publicly incited armed cadres at the Dhanmondi party office, saying, "Chhatra League will answer self-proclaimed Razakars", triggering campus invasions that injured nearly 300 students at Dhaka University.
Quader also coordinated the distribution of funds to armed cadres through his personal secretary and BCL leadership, directed Information and Communications Technology (ICT) State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak to throttle internet speeds, and ordered former Chittagong Mayor Ajm Nasir to forcibly occupy Chittagong University and the city.
On 19 July, he announced a nationwide curfew with explicit "shoot-at-sight" instructions. He also conspired with senior ministers and law enforcement officials to conduct helicopter sniper attacks and cover up arson. These actions resulted in more than 1,400 deaths and 25,000 injuries nationwide, according to the case details.
AFM Bahauddin Nasim
As Central Joint General Secretary of the Bangladesh Awami League and former Member of Parliament for Dhaka-8, AFM Bahauddin Nasim was convicted of crimes against humanity involving murder, attempted murder, torture, abetment, incitement, conspiracy, complicity, and failure to prevent widespread violence.
He participated in high-level party decision-making meetings on 9 July, 15 July and 3 August 2024, where he supported directives to crush student protests, thereby provoking armed cadres to attack peaceful demonstrators. Nasim played a key operational role in executing the nationwide "shoot-at-sight" curfew policy announced on 19 July.
He personally supervised violent suppression in his home district of Madaripur through former mayor Khalid Hossain Yaad, leading to deaths on 18–19 July. On 4 August, he delivered a highly provocative speech at Farmgate branding protesters as "Jamaat-Shibir, war criminals, identified terrorists, and anti-independence forces". The speech directly incited party cadres and law enforcement to open fire across his Dhaka-8 constituency, including Bangla Motor, Paltan, the Dhaka Medical College Hospital area, Gulistan and Chankharpool, killing at least 13 named individuals on 4–5 August.
Mohammad Ali Arafat
As an Executive Committee Member of the Bangladesh Awami League, former State Minister for Information and Broadcasting, and former MP for Dhaka-17, Mohammad Ali Arafat was convicted of crimes against humanity encompassing murder, attempted murder, torture, ordering, abetment, incitement, conspiracy, complicity, and failure to prevent state atrocity crimes.
On the night of 14 July 2024, he personally entered the Dhaka University campus alongside Jubo League and BCL leaders to stage armed shows of force, plan attacks, and orchestrate internet shutdowns across the university area prior to violent assaults that injured nearly 300 students the following day.
Arafat repeatedly issued public threats, highlighting a five-year stockpile of law enforcement ammunition on 19 July, and orchestrated active media censorship.
During a 20 July telephone call with Obaidul Quader, he agreed to forcibly shut down broadcasts of television channels including Bangla Vision, Desh TV, Channel 24 and NTV to suppress news of state violence.
Under his direct supervision, armed party cadres operating under police cover opened fire on protesters in his Dhaka-17 constituency, including Mohakhali, Nadda, Shahjadpur and Banani, killing at least 12 named individuals. He subsequently defended the "shoot-at-sight" curfew and justified maximum state force in public press briefings on 22 July, 1 August and 4 August.
Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash
As Chairman of the Bangladesh Awami Jubo League and Central Executive Committee Member of the Awami League, Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash was convicted of crimes against humanity for exercising command responsibility over Jubo League cadres deployed nationwide to crush the student movement.
Operating under directives from top regime leadership, he commanded Jubo League cadres to use lethal firearms against unarmed demonstrators. His actions were linked to mass killings including the Bahaddarhat massacre in Chittagong on 18 July, in which 19 people were killed; the Mohakhali attacks in Dhaka on 19 July, in which more than 28 people were killed; multiple fatal shootings in Laxmipur and Feni on 4 August, in which 11 people were killed combined; and student killings in Rajshahi on 5 August.
On 1 August 2024, Parash presided over an event at Bangabandhu Avenue where he ordered maximum alertness to completely eradicate the student movement. Intercepted telephone communications from the same day confirmed his direct ongoing coordination with Obaidul Quader to monitor and supervise armed cadre operations across Bangladesh.
Md Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil
As General Secretary of the Central Awami Jubo League, Central Executive Committee Member of the Awami League and former MP for Dhaka-14, Md Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil was convicted of crimes against humanity involving murder, attempted murder, torture, ordering, abetment, incitement, conspiracy, complicity and failure to prevent.
He initiated provocative rhetoric on 12 July 2024 in Sylhet and co-led the armed entry into Dhaka University on the night of 14 July, where Jubo League cadres were documented firing pistols directly at students on 15 July.
On 19 July, Nikhil personally led armed cadres carrying firearms alongside police commanders in Mirpur, resulting in the direct shooting deaths of 26 protesters near Mirpur Police Station at around 5pm.
Nikhil co-conducted the 1 August meeting instructing cadres to eradicate the uprising and maintained direct field command over armed operations in Mirpur through 4–5 August. The violence under his supervision resulted in a total of 69 deaths in the Mirpur area alone, alongside thousands of severe injuries.
Md Saddam Hossain
As Central President of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), Md Saddam Hossain was convicted of crimes against humanity comprising murder, attempted murder, torture, abetment, incitement, conspiracy, complicity, and failure to prevent widespread violence against student protesters.
On 11 July 2024, he threatened protesters at Raju Sculpture and received direct telephone instructions from Obaidul Quader, who asked, "Why aren't you hitting them? Why show them indulgence?", along with strategy and funding to crush the movement.
On 14–15 July, he led helmeted BCL cadres armed with firearms and blunt weapons across the Dhaka University campus, issuing public threats to "see the end" of protesters. The resulting violence injured nearly 300 students and allegedly involved the deliberate blocking of emergency medical care at hospital facilities.
Saddam continued mobilising BCL cadres across educational institutions and districts, issuing further public threats on 15–16 July that led directly to six deaths on 16 July in Dhaka, Chittagong and Rangpur, more than 400 injuries on 17 July, and at least 23 deaths with more than 2,500 injuries nationwide on 18 July.
Sheikh Wali Asif Inan
As Central General Secretary of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), Sheikh Wali Asif Inan was convicted of crimes against humanity involving murder, attempted murder, torture, abetment, incitement, conspiracy, complicity, and failure to prevent.
He received operational funds and instructions from Obaidul Quader through Quader's personal secretary and conducted intimidating "Door-to-Door Campaigns" on 13 July to coerce residential hall students. On 14–15 July, he co-led armed, helmeted BCL cadres onto the Dhaka University campus to physically assault peaceful protesters.
Inan personally supervised field attacks at Madhur Canteen and campus grounds and co-conducted the 16 July rally at Raju Sculpture that provoked nationwide cadre shootings, killing six people. He also blocked injured students from receiving hospital treatment.
Furthermore, a leaked telephone conversation broadcast by Al Jazeera on 17 July confirmed that he received direct instructions from former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to execute nationwide violence. The case attributed direct command responsibility to Inan for BCL attacks on 18 July that killed at least 23 people and injured more than 2,500 across Bangladesh.
Prosecutor satisfied with verdict
Speaking to reporters after the verdict, Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam said the tribunal's rules and statutes allow up to 75% of an accused person's assets to be confiscated.
"This is the first time our tribunal has confiscated 50% of their movable and immovable assets," he said.
He said the tribunal had ordered the confiscated 50% to be distributed among the families of those killed and injured through the July Foundation or another statutory institution.
"We are satisfied with the verdict and believe it is an expected verdict. Around 1,400 people were killed, and 25,000 people were left disabled. We believe justice has been delivered today to the martyrs and those injured," Aminul Islam said.
Defence lawyers express dissatisfaction
The trial proceeded with all seven accused shown as fugitives. State-appointed lawyers M Hasan Imam and Israt Jahan represented the accused, while prosecutors Mizanul Islam and Gazi MH Tamim represented the state.
After the verdict, defence lawyer Israt Jahan, who represented Saddam, Inan, Nikhil and Parash, said she had made every effort to secure acquittal for her clients based on the evidence and documents presented before the tribunal.
"I argued and cross-examined witnesses in accordance with the law and to the fullest extent possible. But the honourable tribunal has sentenced my four clients to death and life imprisonment on various charges," she said.
"As lawyers, we are bound to accept the tribunal's verdict. We do not have the audacity to speak against the tribunal's verdict. We accept and respect the verdict. But I am not satisfied with this verdict," she added.
Defence lawyer Hasan Imam, who represented Quader, Nasim and Arafat, said they had made their best efforts during the trial.
"We cross-examined the witnesses and presented our arguments. We explained everything to the honourable tribunal, from the Second World War to the advantages and disadvantages of the principle of command responsibility. Without seeing the full verdict, I cannot say whether our arguments have been taken into consideration," he said.
Hasan Imam, a former judge, said, "As I was a judge myself, I can say that we have no authority to speak against the judgments of the honourable judges, nor do we have the audacity to do so. However, I too am not satisfied with this verdict."
He said the defence should appeal against the verdict if there was an opportunity to do so.
"Perhaps we may get a better result on appeal, InshaAllah, in the days ahead," he said.
Read more about the post-uprising ICT verdicts so far
Ex-DMP chief Habibur, 2 others to die for Chankharpul killings during July Uprising
Ex-MP Saiful, 5 others get death over killings, burning of bodies in Ashulia on 5 Aug
Former ASI Amir, ex-constable Sujan to walk gallows for Abu Sayed killing
Ex-DMP chief Habibur, two other former cops sentenced to death over July Uprising killings
