The International Crimes Tribunal has set January 20 to deliver its verdict against former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Habibur Rahman and seven others in a case over crimes against humanity related to the killing of six people in the capital’s Chankharpul area during the July 2024 mass uprising linked to the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
A three-member bench of Tribunal-1, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, fixed the date on Wednesday after concluding hearings from both the prosecution and the defence.
Tax lawyer Md Ziaur Rashid argued on behalf of accused Imaz Hossain Emon, while state defence lawyer Qutubuddin Ahmed represented four absconding accused. Prosecutor Mizanul Islam placed arguments for the prosecution, assisted by prosecutors Shahidul Islam, Abdullah Al Noman and others.
The four accused currently in custody are former Shahbagh Police Station inspector (operations) Md Arshad Hossain, constable Md Sujan Mia, Md Imaz Hossain Emon and Md Nasirul Islam. They were produced before the tribunal on Wednesday morning amid tight security.
The absconding accused are former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, former DMP joint commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former Ramna division additional deputy commissioner Shah Alam Md Akhtarul Islam, and former Ramna division assistant commissioner Mohammad Imrul. The tribunal framed charges against the eight accused and ordered the trial to begin on July 14 this year.
During the defence phase, Jewel Mahmud testified on December 10 in support of Arshad Hossain, who also testified in his own defence on December 8. Md Solaiman gave testimony the same day. Earlier, on November 30, the tribunal allowed three defence witnesses following an application by Arshad Hossain’s lawyer.
The cross-examination of the main investigation officer, Md Monirul Islam—who testified against all eight accused, including the former DMP commissioner—concluded on November 19 after spanning three consecutive days. His testimony began on November 12. In total, the cross-examination of 26 witnesses was completed over 23 working days.
Prosecutor Mizanul Islam placed the prosecution’s concluding arguments on December 15, outlining the sequence of events and the alleged roles of each accused in the Chankharpul incident on August 5 last year. He told the tribunal that six people were killed on the direct orders of former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman and sought the maximum punishment for all eight accused.
Partial defence arguments were heard on December 22, after which the tribunal fixed Wednesday for the remaining submissions. On the day, defence lawyers Saddam Hossain Abhi, Sifat Mahmud Shuvo and Abul Hasan argued on behalf of different accused, claiming the prosecution had failed to produce sufficient evidence against their clients.
According to the case records, police opened fire on a peaceful student movement in the Chankharpul area on August 5, 2024. Six people—Shahriar Khan Anas, Sheikh Junaid, Md Yakub, Md Rakib Howlader, Md Ismamul Haque and Manik Mia Shahrik—were killed in the incident, while many others were injured.