STAFF CORRESPONDENT

The prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal yesterday concluded its arguments in a crimes against humanity case over the killing of six people in Kushtia during the July 2024 uprising, seeking the highest punishment for Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif and three other party leaders.

Prosecutor Mizanul Islam told the tribunal that Hanif facilitated the killings by portraying protesting students and civilians as BNP-Jamaat activists and terrorists, and by delivering provocative speeches that incited violence.

The prosecution said Hanif spoke to the then Kushtia superintendent of police 40 times over the phone between July 18 and August 5 and instructed him to suppress the student movement.

Citing witness testimonies, the prosecution said the accused, acting on Hanif’s instructions, vowed to crush the movement at any cost and declared that they would not hesitate to leave behind dead bodies if necessary.

The prosecution argued that their actions ultimately led to the deaths of six students and civilians. The tribunal fixed today for defence arguments.