The tribunal will decide whether to frame charges against 26 accused, including former Dhaka-18 MP Habib Hasan and former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, in a crimes against humanity case over the killing of 11 people during the July Uprising in Uttara.
Eight accused are produced before the International Crimes Tribunal during a hearing in the July Uprising crimes against humanity case in Dhaka today (3 August). Photo: Collected
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Eight accused are produced before the International Crimes Tribunal during a hearing in the July Uprising crimes against humanity case in Dhaka today (3 August). Photo: Collected
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has fixed 20 August to decide whether to frame charges and begin the trial of 26 accused, including former Dhaka-18 MP Habib Hasan and former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman, in a crimes against humanity case over the killing of 11 people, including Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho, during the July Uprising in Dhaka’s Uttara.
The order was passed today (3 August) by the three-member ICT-1 bench headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder after hearing discharge petitions filed by the accused over three working days, according to court sources.
The prosecution concluded its arguments seeking the framing of charges on 21 July.
At today’s hearing, state-appointed defence counsel Amir Hossain represented the absconding accused. State defence lawyer M Hasan Imam also sought the discharge of his clients.
According to the first charge submitted by the prosecution, on 18 July 2024, security forces opened indiscriminate fire on anti-discrimination student protesters and members of the public in the Uttara area along the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway, killing seven people, including Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) MBA student Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdha.
The prosecution further alleges that Uber driver Mokhlesur Rahman, also known as Durjoy, was crushed under the wheels of a police Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), after which his body was dumped in the Turag River in an attempt to conceal the crime.
Five others, including Mehedi Hasan, were allegedly shot and seriously injured in an attempt to kill them.
The second charge alleges that on 19 July, security forces again opened indiscriminate fire on protesters in the same area, killing four people, including Ridwan Sharif Riyad Joy, and critically injuring Raisul Rahman Ratul in an attempted murder.
The prosecution has described both incidents as planned, widespread and systematic crimes against humanity.
Eight accused currently in custody were produced before the tribunal.
They are former additional deputy commissioner of DMP’s Uttara Division Mirza Salahuddin, former Uttara East Police Station officer-in-charge (OC) Md Mujibur Rahman, former Azampur Police Outpost constable Md Hossain Ali, former Uttara West Awami League president Monowar Islam Chowdhury Robin, Jubo League leader Md Delwar Hossain Rubel, Awami League leader Md Sohel Rana, Ward Swechchhasebak League Vice-President Md Shah Alam and Turag Thana Awami League activist Md Irfanul Haque Gazi.
The remaining 18 accused are absconding.
They include former Dhaka-18 MP Mohammad Habib Hasan, former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, former deputy commissioner of DMP’s Uttara Division Kazi Ashraful Azim, former additional deputy commissioner Md Towhidul Islam, former assistant commissioner Suman Kar, former Uttara West OC BM Forman Ali, former Uttara East Police Station Inspector (Operations) Mahmudul Hasan, former constable Md Abu Sayem, Awami League leader Md Alauddin Al Sohel, former Dhaka North City Corporation councillors Jahangir Hossain, Md Farid Ahmed, DM Shamim, Md Anisur Rahman Nayeem and Md Afsar Uddin Khan, former SI Khaled Anwar, former ASI Md Roknuzzaman, former Uttara West Chhatra League vice-president Murtafa Bin Omar and Jubo League leader Zakir Hossain of Turag Thana.
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