A Bangladesh war crimes tribunal has sentenced seven people, including former Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, to death over alleged crimes against humanity committed during the country’s deadly July-August mass uprising in 2024.
The verdict was delivered on Tuesday by a three-member bench of the International Crimes Tribunal-2, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, with Justice Md Manjurul Basid and Justice Noor Mohammad Shahriar Kabir serving as members. Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim confirmed the ruling, according to the Dhaka Tribune.
Also handed death sentences are 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; Jubo League General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil; Bangladesh Chhatra League President Saddam Hussain; and Chhatra League General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Inan.
All seven convicts are reportedly fugitives.
The prosecution accused law enforcement agencies and armed members of the Awami League and its affiliated groups of carrying out widespread and systematic attacks, killings and torture against unarmed students and civilians during the 2024 uprising.
Prosecutors argued that the seven accused exercised command and control over the alleged operations and were involved in directing, inciting, aiding or facilitating the crimes, or were aware of them.
Quader, who served as Awami League general secretary and road transport and bridges minister at the time, was specifically accused of directing and inciting attacks allegedly carried out by security forces and armed members of the Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League.
