Politics
Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced seven people, including Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, to death in a case involving crimes against humanity committed during the July 2024 uprising.
Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced seven people, including Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, to death in a case involving crimes against humanity committed during the July 2024 uprising.
A three-member International Crimes Tribunal-2 sentenced Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and six other accused to death. The verdict was delivered by Tribunal Chairman Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury. The other members of the tribunal were Justice Mohammad Manzoor-ul-Basit and Justice Noor Mohammad Shahriar Kabir. The other defendants sentenced to death include former Awami League State Minister for Information Mohammad Ali Arafat; Awami League Joint General Secretary A.F.M. Bahauddin Nasim; Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash; Jubo League General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil; Chhatra League President Saddam Hussain; and the organization’s General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Anan. The tribunal also ordered the confiscation of half of the assets belonging to Obaidul Quader, Bahauddin Nasim, Mohammad Ali Arafat, Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash and Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil.
The court ordered that the confiscated assets be sold and the proceeds used as compensation for the families of those killed and people injured during the July uprising. According to the tribunal, the compensation will be provided through the July Foundation or another legally authorized institution. According to the prosecution, Obaidul Quader, in his capacity as Awami League General Secretary and a cabinet minister, exercised command and control over law enforcement agencies as well as armed activists of the Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League to violently suppress the quota reform movement that began on July 1, 2024. The prosecution alleged that, with the knowledge and involvement of the accused, large-scale, systematic and targeted attacks were carried out against civilians, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,400 protesters and serious injuries to more than 25,000 people.
According to the prosecution, Bahauddin Nasim helped organize and facilitate the Awami League’s response, while Mohammad Ali Arafat played a role in controlling the media and suppressing reports about the deaths and violence. The prosecution accused Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash and Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil of mobilizing Jubo League activists. According to the prosecution, Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil also personally opened fire on protesters. Chhatra League leaders Saddam Hussain and Sheikh Wali Asif Anan were accused of mobilizing armed activists and coordinating the attacks.
The investigation into the case began on June 18, 2025. The investigation agency submitted its report to the prosecution on December 7. The tribunal took cognizance of seven charges on December 18, while seven charges were formally brought against the accused on January 22, 2026. The formal trial began on February 17, during which 29 prosecution witnesses recorded their statements before the court. The prosecution and defense completed their final arguments over nine days of hearings between August 4 and 17. The tribunal then delivered its verdict against all seven accused today, sentencing them to death.
Bangladesh’s ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced that she plans to return to her home country from India around December this year, despite saying, “They could arrest me upon my return, or even kill me.” In a telephone interview with international news agency Reuters, 78-year-old Sheikh Hasina said that despite fears of arrest and “killing,” “I have to go back to my country.” “The leaders and activists of my party, the Awami League, are facing severe pressure and difficulties. If I have to die, I want to embrace death on my homeland, where my parents are buried and where their blood was shed.”
Sheikh Hasina left Bangladesh for India following nationwide protests in 2024. Later, a Bangladeshi court sentenced her to death in absentia over allegations that she ordered a crackdown on the protest movement. Her possible return could further increase political tensions in Bangladesh. However, some analysts believe it could also improve relations between India and Bangladesh, which have been strained since her exile. Sheikh Hasina said she was making the decision to return without consulting any foreign government. “The authorities in Dhaka want to bring me back. They have repeatedly written to the Indian government asking for my return, but I will go back on my own,” she said. She further said, “Cases have been filed against almost all of my party’s leaders and activists, and many of them are fugitives. So I told them that this time I am going back home, and one day all of you should return as well. We will surrender before the court together.”
Sheikh Hasina was Bangladesh’s longest-serving leader. However, during her tenure, her government faced repeated allegations of cracking down on the opposition and undermining democratic values. Rejecting the allegations against her, she said she believed in justice and that the people would ultimately decide how her government had performed. “No government is above mistakes. Whenever a government remains in power for a long time, mistakes are bound to happen. But it is the people’s right and responsibility to judge what is right and wrong and to weigh the good and bad of governments. I leave that judgment to the people.”
