Ex-DMP chief Habibur, 2 others to die for Chankharpul killings during July Uprising
The others in the case have been sentenced to different terms in prison
Highlights
- Three senior police officials sentenced to death
- Prison terms handed down to five other police officers, ranging from three to six years
- Case linked to the killing of six people in police firing at Chankharpul on 5 August 2024 during July Uprising
- First July killings verdict against the police
- Four convicted officers remain absconding, including all three death-row convicts
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) sentenced three people, including former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Habibur Rahman, to death in a crimes against humanity case over the killing of six people in police firing in Dhaka's Chankharpul on 5 August 2024 during the July Uprising.
The other two condemned to death are former DMP joint commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty and former additional deputy commissioner of Ramna zone Shah Alam Mohammad Akhtarul Islam.
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The verdict was delivered today (26 January) by the three-member ICT-1, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder.
This is the second verdict delivered by the restructured ICT and the first judgment in any July killings case involving members of the police force.
In the same verdict, former assistant commissioner of the Ramna zone Mohammad Imrul was sentenced to six years in prison. Former Shahbagh Police Station inspector Md Arshad Hossain, currently in custody, received a four-year prison sentence, while former constables Md Sujan Hossain, Md Imaj Hossain and Md Nasirul Islam were sentenced to three years each.
Four of the convicted - Habibur Rahman, Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, Shah Alam Mohammad Akhtarul Islam and Mohammad Imrul - remain absconding.
The tribunal also ordered confiscating the property of those sentenced to death.
"These three [sentenced to death] had superior status over their subordinates and are liable for superior command responsibility. They are found guilty and hereby awarded a single sentence of death," the judgment said.
The tribunal said Shah Alam Mohammad Akhtarul Islam compelled lower-ranking policemen to take up arms on the scene and open fire on protesters, adding that he even handed over a Chinese rifle to constable Sujon after taking it from another constable who had refused to fire.
As subordinates, the lower-ranking policemen had little choice but to follow the orders of their superiors, the tribunal observed.
Meanwhile, Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam expressed dissatisfaction over the judgment and said the prosecution would file an appeal.
"Much obliged. Though it is customary to say 'much obliged' after any judgment of the court, we intend to file an appeal," he told the tribunal after the verdict.
Tajul Islam said police constable Sujon showed excitement while firing. However, explaining the verdict he said, "Since he was a constable and was bound to follow the orders of his superiors, the court gave him a limited sentence."
The chief prosecutor further said the verdict sends a message that government officials and employees are not obliged to carry out illegal orders. "If they do, they will not be spared in a court of law," he said.
The tribunal had earlier scheduled 20 January for delivering the verdict but deferred it as the judgment was not ready.
The case was kept under consideration for judgment on 24 December last year following the completion of arguments by both prosecution and defence. Charges were framed against all eight accused on 14 July 2025, while the prosecution submitted the formal charge on 25 May, marking the first formal indictment at the ICT in cases arising from the July Uprising.
According to the prosecution, six people—Shahriar Khan Anas, Sheikh Mahdi Hasan Zunayed, Md Yakub, Md Rakib Hawlader, Md Ismamul Haque, and Manik Miah—were killed in police firing in Chankharpul on 5 August 2024 during the July Uprising.
The ICT investigation agency submitted a 90-page probe report on 11 April 2025, which stated that the accused used lethal weapons against unarmed and peaceful protesters, resulting in the deaths. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam told journalists that the report includes statements from 79 witnesses, 19 videos, 11 newspaper reports, 2 audio recordings, 11 books and reports, and six death certificates.
Tajul Islam added, "One of the audio recordings features Habibur Rahman, who, from the police command center, instructed police officers via wireless to suppress the student-public movement and to fire directly with Chinese rifles. Following his instructions, police personnel used lethal firearms."
A total of 26 people, including the investigating officer, testified in the crimes-against-humanity case, with statements recorded by the tribunal over 23 working days. As part of the defence, statements were also recorded from accused Md Arshad Hossain and three others.
Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, one of the coordinators of the July Uprising, also testified, standing at the tribunal witness stand and demanding punishment for the accused.
Charges were framed against all eight accused on 14 July 2025, and the prosecution submitted the formal charge on 25 May, marking the first formal indictment at the ICT in cases arising from the July Uprising.
Taking cognisance of the charges, the tribunal issued arrest warrants that day against absconding accused, including Habibur Rahman. The case was kept under consideration for judgment on 24 December last year following the completion of arguments by both the prosecution and the defence.
