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Published : 14 Jul 2025, 01:59 PM
The International Crimes Tribunal has ordered a trial against former Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Habibur Rahman and seven other suspects in the murder of six people in Dhaka's Chankharpul during last year's July Uprising after charging them with crimes against humanity.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder issued the order on Monday after rejecting the defendants’ petitions for discharge and formally framing charges against them.
The tribunal has set Aug 10 for the prosecution's opening statement and Aug 11 for the start of witness testimony.
ICT Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam and Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim represented the state at the hearing.
Among the eight accused in the case, four have been arrested and were produced in court. They are former police inspector Arshad, and constables Md Sujon, Imaaz Hossain Emon, and Nasirul Islam.
The other suspects are former joint commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakrabarti, former additional deputy commissioner of Ramna Zone Shah Alam Md Akhtarul Islam, and former assistant commissioner of Ramna Zone Mohammad Imrul. All of them, including Habibur, remain on the run.
During the session, Justice Md Shofiul Alam Mahmood read out the charges to the accused present. When asked if they admitted to the charges, the defendants pleaded not guilty and sought a trial, after which the tribunal formally framed charges and ordered proceedings to begin.
The tribunal had officially taken the charges into consideration on May 25.
On Jun 3, the court ordered the publication of newspaper notices summoning the fugitives.
Before that, the tribunal’s Investigation Agency submitted its report to the chief prosecutor.
According to the report, the accused used lethal force against “unarmed and peaceful protesters” at Chankharpul, killing Shahriar Khan Anas, Sheikh Mahdi Hasan Junayed, Md Yakoob, Md Rakib Howlader, Md Ismamul Haque, and Manik Mia.
The report spans 90 pages and took 6 months and 13 days to complete, according to Tajul. Statements from 79 witnesses were recorded, along with 19 video clips, 11 newspaper reports, 2 audio recordings, 11 books and reports, and six death certificates attached as evidence.
The report implicated eight people, including former DMP chief Habibur.
A wave of allegations was filed during and after the July–August Movement, accusing members of the deposed Awami League administration and law-enforcing agencies of committing atrocities and crimes against humanity to quell the student-led mass uprising.
