Ex-DMP chief Habibur, 2 other cops sentenced to death

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has sentenced former Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Habibur Rahman and two other senior police officials to death in a crime against humanity case over the killing of six people during the 2024 July Uprising in Dhaka's Chankharpul.

The two others are former joint commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty; former additional deputy commissioner Shah Alam Mohammad Akhtarul Islam.

The ICT-1 also sentenced former assistant commissioner of Ramna zone Mohammad Imrul to imprisonment for six years; former Shahbagh Police Station inspector (operations) Arshad Hossain for four years; and constables Sujon Hossain, Imaz Hossain and Nasirul Islam for three years each, in connection with the case.

Of the accused, Arshad, Sujon, Imaz and Nasirul are currently in custody.

The three-member International Crimes Tribunal-1      
led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder delivered the judgement. The two other members are - Justice Md Shofiul Alam Mahmood and Judge Md Mohitul Hoque Anam Chawdhury.

Both the prosecution and the families of the victims expressed dissatisfaction over the verdict.

ICT Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam said that the prosecution would file appeal with the Supreme Court against the tribunal verdict to increase the punishment of the convicted accused.

He said that during the "March to Dhaka" programme on August 5 in 2024, police opened indiscriminate fire on freedom-seeking students and members of the public as they advanced through the Chankharpul area, killing six people. A case was filed over the incident, and the charges against the accused were proven.

The tribunal sentenced three accused to death. However, those who directly fired shots - some of whom were seen doing so in video footage and were carrying rifles without authorised issuance - received lighter sentences. One was sentenced to six years in prison, another to four years, and three constables to three years each.