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In a major development in Bangladeshi politics, former Information Minister and veteran fighter of the 1971 liberation war, Hasanul Haq Inu, has been sentenced to 10 years in jail. The International Crimes Tribunal has found Inu guilty of inciting police to use deadly force and pursuing a repressive policy against protesters during the August 2024 anti-government student protests. This decision is another strong action by the special tribunals formed over the violence during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure.
Historic verdict and allegations of 211 pages
In its detailed 211-page verdict, the tribunal found Inu directly responsible for crimes related to the killing of six protesters in Kushtia district during the July 2024 insurgency. The prosecution presented evidence that Inu was present at the high-level meeting of the 14-party alliance held at the Prime Minister’s residence on July 19, 2024, where the controversial decision to deploy the army and open fire on the protesters was taken. Apart from this, the allegations against him of making the police list of protesters and taking action against them and defaming the protesters by calling them ‘terrorists’ through TV interviews have also been proved.
Decision rejected by terming it as ‘trial by fire’
After being sentenced, Inu termed the entire legal proceedings as just a ‘drama’. Coming out of the courtroom, he told reporters that this is a fake trial and he is going through this ‘Agnipariksha’. His wife Afroza Haq Reena has also expressed strong displeasure over the decision and indicated that the family will consider filing an appeal in the higher court after consulting senior party leaders and lawyers.
Innu’s influence under Sheikh Hasina’s rule
Hasnul Haq Inu played an important role in the Cabinet of Bangladesh as the Information Minister from 2012 to 2018. Although his political influence was less than before during the 2024 unrest, the prosecution succeeded in convincing the court that Inu was part of the core decision-making team until the final moments of the fall of the Hasina government. This sentence is an indication that the tribunal constituted after the interim government is determined to tighten the noose against those ministers and advisors of the previous government, whose role was played in crushing the student movement.