Dhaka: The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 has scheduled June 29 for the hearing on the framing of charges in a crimes against humanity case related to the killings of six individuals in the Chankharpul area on August 5, 2024. The tribunal’s decision includes appointing a state defense for the accused.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the three-member panel of ICT-1, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, issued an order on June 3 for the publication of notices in two national dailies. These notices instructed four fugitive accused to present themselves before the tribunal. The individuals named in the notice are 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 Mohammad Imrul. The notices were published the following day, but the accused failed to appear, prompting today’s order from the tribunal.
Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim participated in the hearing before the tribunal. The prosecution had previously filed formal charges on May 25 against eight individuals in connection with the crimes in Chankharpul. This marks the first formal charge filed at the ICT concerning the cases arising from 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 killed on August 5 in Chankharpul. The tribunal’s investigation agency submitted a comprehensive 90-page report on April 20, following an investigation lasting six months and 13 days. The report includes testimonies from 79 witnesses, 19 video footage clips, 11 newspaper reports, two audio files, 11 books or reports, and six death certificates.