ICT sets 17 Feb to frame charges against ex-DMP chief Habibur, 10 others in July killing case

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2) fixed 17 February for its order on the framing of charges against former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Habibur Rahman, 10 others, in a crimes against humanity case over the killing of Imam Hasan Taim, son of police officer Md Moynal Hossain Bhuiyan, during the July Uprising in Jatrabari.

A three-member tribunal led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury set the date after hearing defence arguments on the charge-framing stage today (2 February).

The hearing was scheduled for arguments from the defence. Lawyer Abul Hasan represented former officer-in-charge of Jatrabari Police Station Abul Hasan and former sub-inspector Shahadat Ali, currently in custody, and filed an application seeking their discharge, along with a request for exemption.

State defence lawyers M Hasan Imam and Lokman Hawlader argued on behalf of the nine fugitives, opposing the prosecution's allegations and claiming their clients were not involved in the incident.

After hearing both sides, the tribunal fixed 17 February for the order.

Earlier, on 28 January, the prosecution sought formal framing of charges against the 11 accused, citing prima facie evidence.

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam placed the application before the tribunal following a hearing.

The nine fugitive accused are former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, former joint commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former Wari Zone DC Iqbal Hossain, ADC Shakil Mohammad Shamim, former Demra Zone ADC Md Masudur Rahman Monir, assistant commissioner Nahid Ferdous, former Jatrabari police station inspector (investigation) Zakir Hossain, inspector (operation) Ohidul Huq Mamun, and SI (unarmed) Sajjad Uz Zaman.

On 24 December last year, ICT-2 accepted the charges against the accused and issued arrest warrants after the prosecution submitted formal charges.

According to the prosecution, Imam Hasan Taim was shot dead at close range on 20 July 2024 in the Kajla area of Jatrabari, allegedly on the orders of senior DMP officials, including Habibur Rahman and Sudip Kumar Chakraborty. 

The prosecution said that while Taim lay critically injured, his friend Rahat attempted to pull him to safety from behind. At that moment, police opened fire again, forcing Rahat to retreat and leave Taim behind.

The accused face allegations of crimes against humanity, including ordering murder, instigation and provocation.

Taim's father, Md Moynal Hossain Bhuiyan, is a serving police officer and currently works as a sub-inspector at the Rajarbagh Police Lines.