Ex-DMP commissioner, 7 other policemen indicted in Chankharpul killings
The tribunal has fixed 10 August for opening statements and 11 August for recording witness testimonies
The International Crimes Tribunal has ordered a trial against eight accused, including the former DMP commissioner, in a crimes against humanity case filed over the fatal shooting of six people in Dhaka's Chankharpul area on 5 August during last year's July Uprising.
A three-member bench, headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder, issued the order today (14 July) after holding a hearing on the matter. The bench formally framed charges after dismissing the defence counsel's discharge petitions.
The tribunal scheduled the prosecution's opening statement for 10 August and witness testimony is set to begin the following day, on 11 August.
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According to the charge sheet, the accused used lethal force on peaceful demonstrators, resulting in the deaths of Shahriar Khan Anas, Sheikh Mahdi Hasan Junayed, Md Yakub, Md Rakib Hawlader, Md Ismamul Haque, and Manik Mia.
Four of the accused – former Inspector Arshad, and Constables Md Sujon, Imaaz Hossain Imon, and Nasirul Islam – are currently in custody and were present in court during the hearing.
However, four other accused remain absconding. They include former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Habibur Rahman, former joint commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former additional deputy commissioner of Ramna Zone Shah Alam Md Akhtarul Islam, and former assistant commissioner Mohammad Imrul.
The case centres on the events of 5 August, when security personnel allegedly opened fire on unarmed protesters in the Chankharpul area.
On 25 May, the tribunal formally accepted the charges brought in the case.
