The ICT-1 on Monday framed charges against eight accused, including former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, in a crimes against humanity case filed over the killing of six people in the city's Chankharpool during the mass uprising.
The three-member bench of the International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1), headed by its Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, passed the order. The two other members of the tribunal are -- Justice Md Shofiul Alam Mahmood and Judge Md Mohitul Hoque Anam Chowdhury.
The tribunal said, "Petitions placed by the accused seeking acquittal from the case have been rejected. Formal charge has been framed against them in the crimes against humanity case filed over the killing of six people in the city's Chankharpool are on August 5 last year."
Among the accused, four were present at the courtroom during the proceedings. They are Arshad Hossain, former inspector (Operations) of Shahbagh Police Station, and former constables Sujon, Imaz Hossain, and Nasirul Islam.
After the charges were read, the court asked the four accused whether they pleaded themselves guilty or not guilty. In reply, all the four denied the charges, and demanded justice from the tribunal.
The remaining accused -- Habibur Rahman, former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner; Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former DMP joint commissioner; Shah Alam Mohammad Akhtarul Islam, former additional deputy commissioner; and Mohammad Imrul, former assistant commissioner of DMP's Ramna Zone; are currently absconding.
The tribunal set August 10 for the prosecution's opening statement and August 11 for recording depositions of the witnesses.
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam and Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim appeared for the prosecution, while lawyer Sifat Mahmud and others represented the accused.
Shahriar Khan Anas, Sheikh Mahdi Hasan Zunayed, Md Yakub, Md Rakib Hawlader, Md Ismamul Haque, and Manik Miah were martyred in the Chankharpul area on August 5 in 2024.
On April 20, the investigation agency of the ICT, submitted the probe report against the eight policemen in the case. Later, on May 25, the prosecution pressed formal charges, or, officially took the charges into consideration, at the ICT-1 in the case.
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