Dhaka: The prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is set to file a formal charge sheet within four weeks concerning the Chankharpul massacre case, where six innocents were killed during the July-August mass uprising. ICT Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam confirmed this development to the tribunal, requesting a four-week period to review the probe report submitted by the investigation agency on April 20 and to prepare the formal charges.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, chairman of the three-judge panel of the tribunal, has granted the prosecution’s request and adjourned the hearing until May 25. This follows the ICT investigation agency’s submission of its first probe report since being reconstituted on September 18, 2024. The report implicates eight individuals, including former commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Habibur Rahman. Among those implicated, Inspector Arshad, along with constables Md Suzon, Imaz Hossain Emon, and Nasirul Islam, have been arrested and are currently detained.
Muhammad Tajul Islam informed the media on April 21 that the investigation agency compiled the 90-page report over a period of six months and 13 days. The report includes testimonies from 79 witnesses, 19 video footages, 11 newspaper reports, two audio files, 11 books or reports, and six death certificates. The Chankharpul massacre resulted in the deaths of Shahriar Khan Anas, Mahdi Hasan Zunaid, Md Yakub, Md Rakib Hawlader, Md Ismamul Haque, and Manik Miah, who were brutally killed in police firing during the mass uprising.