Dhaka: The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 today has set July 14 for passing an order on charge framing in a case filed under crimes against humanity over the killings of six innocent people in the city's Chankharpul area on August 5, 2024.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the three-member panel of the ICT-1, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, passed the order as the prosecution argued for framing charges while the defense participated in the hearing on discharge petitions. Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam, along with prosecutors Mizanul Islam, BM Sultan Mahmud, and Gazi MH Tamim, advocated for the framing of charges.
Advocate Saddam Hossain Ovy argued for accused Inspector Arshad, Barrister Sifat Mahmud for constable Md Sujon, Advocate Shibli Sadekin for constable Imaj Hossain Emon, and Advocate Abul Hasan for constable Nasirul Islam. State-appointed counsel Advocate Md Kutubuddin defended four fugitive accused at the tribunal.
On June 3, the ICT-1 ordered authorities to publish notices in two national dailies, asking four fugitive accused to appear before it. These fugitives include former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman, former DMP Joint Commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former Additional Deputy Commissioner Shah Alam Mohammad Akhtarul Islam, and former Assistant Commissioner of Ramna Zone of DMP Mohammad Imrul. The notice was published the following day, but the fugitives remained absent, leading the tribunal to appoint Advocate Md Kutubuddin as the state defense counsel to represent them.
The prosecution filed the formal charges against eight individuals in the case on May 25. It was the first formal charge filed at the ICT in cases related to the July-August mass uprising. The victims, Shahriar Khan Anas, Sheikh Mahdi Hasan Zunayed, Md Yakub, Md Rakib Hawlader, Md Ismamul Haque, and Manik Miah, were martyred in the Chankharpul area on August 5.
The tribunal's investigation agency filed a 90-page probe report on April 20, having prepared it over six months and 13 days. Testimonies from 79 witnesses were recorded, and the report included 19 video footages, 11 newspaper reports, two audio files, 11 books or reports, and six death certificates, Muhammad Tajul Islam stated earlier.