DHAKA, Sept 15, 2026 — Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-2) today handed down death sentences to seven senior leaders of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organizations, convicting them of crimes against humanity linked to the 2024 crackdown on student protesters. It is the largest single batch of death sentences issued by the tribunal since the July Uprising, bringing the total number of people sentenced to death in related cases to 22.
The Verdict: All Seven Sentenced to Death
The seven convicted, all tried in absentia, are:
| Name | Position |
| Obaidul Quader | Awami League General Secretary, former Road Transport Minister |
| AFM Bahauddin Nasim | Awami League Joint General Secretary |
| Mohammad Ali Arafat | Former State Minister for Information and Broadcasting |
| Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash | President, Jubo League |
| Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil | General Secretary, Jubo League |
| Saddam Hossain | President, Bangladesh Chhatra League |
| Sheikh Wali Asif Inan | General Secretary, Bangladesh Chhatra League |
None of the accused appeared before the court. State-appointed defense lawyers represented them, but no defense counsel was present during proceedings.
Legal Findings and Asset Confiscation
The three-member bench, led by Judge Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, found that the seven defendants planned, incited, or aided violence against demonstrators during the July–August 2024 student protests through directives, inflammatory speeches, and coordination meetings. Prosecutors said Quader personally ordered security forces to open fire on protesters, resulting in “indiscriminate shooting” that continued until the Hasina government fell on August 5, 2024.
The tribunal also ordered the confiscation of 50 percent of the movable and immovable properties of five of the convicts — excluding Saddam Hossain and Sheikh Wali Asif Inan. The seized assets will be sold through the “July Martyrs’ Memorial Foundation” or a designated body, with proceeds going to compensation for the families of those killed and injured.
Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam told reporters after the verdict: “Each defendant faced four charges. Most of the charges were proven beyond doubt, which is why the tribunal handed down the death penalty.”
Background: 22 Death Sentences So Far
With today’s ruling, 22 people have now been sentenced to death in cases tied to the July Uprising, and 68 have been convicted overall. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia in November 2025, along with former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal in the same case. Hasina has been in exile in India since her government collapsed on August 5, 2024, and has not returned.
The United Nations Human Rights Office estimates that up to 1,400 people were killed during the violence between July 15 and August 5, 2024, most of them shot by security forces.
Reactions
Following the verdict, lawyers aligned with the Awami League staged a silent protest outside the Supreme Court, calling the trial “politically motivated and lacking due process.” One protesting lawyer described the tribunal as a “kangaroo court.” International human rights organizations have repeatedly criticized the tribunal’s use of the death penalty and questioned the fairness of its proceedings. Amnesty International, responding to earlier verdicts in similar cases, said: “The death penalty has no place in any court,” urging Bangladesh to halt executions.
Under Bangladesh’s International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, the convicted have 30 days to appeal to the Supreme Court. The chief prosecutor has said those who fail to appeal within the deadline will forfeit their right to do so. All seven remain at large; authorities say they will move to arrest and repatriate them once their locations are confirmed.
Timeline News | Reporting from Dhaka
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