NN Online:
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has formally begun the trial against eight police officials, including former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman, over their alleged involvement in crimes against humanity during the July uprising in Dhaka’s Chankharpul area. The case centers on the killing of six people, including a youth named Anas.
The tribunal’s three-member judicial panel, headed by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder and comprising Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Judge Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury, passed the order on Monday, July 14.
The date had earlier been fixed for delivering the court’s decision on charge framing in the case. Following hearings, the tribunal allowed the trial to move forward.
According to the formal charges submitted by the prosecution, all eight accused face allegations of serious human rights violations during the crackdown on demonstrators.
Four of the accused—former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, former Joint Commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former Additional Deputy Commissioner of Ramna Zone Shah Alam Md Akhtarul Islam, and former Assistant Commissioner Mohammad Imrul—remain fugitives. State-appointed lawyer Md Kutub Uddin submitted a petition seeking their discharge from the case.
The other four—former Shahbagh Police Station Inspector Md Arshad Hossain and ex-constables Md Sujan Hossain, Imaaz Hossain, and Md Nasirul Islam—are currently in custody and will face trial while detained.
