Three Sentenced to Death, One Awarded 20 Years’ Imprisonment in ICT Rampura Crimes Against Humanity Case
The International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced three individuals, including former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman, to death in a crimes against humanity case arising from the shooting of a young man who was hanging from the ledge of an under-construction building in Rampura during the July Mass Uprising, as well as the killing of two other civilians.
The Tribunal also sentenced Chanchal Chandra Sarkar, the then Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of the Rampura Police Outpost, to 20 years’ rigorous imprisonment.
The verdict was delivered at 12:25 p.m. on Sunday (28 June) by a three-member bench of International Crimes Tribunal-1, headed by Chairman Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder. The other members of the bench were Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Judge Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.
Those sentenced to death are:
- Former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman;
- Former Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of the Khilgaon Zone Md. Rashedul Islam; and
- Former Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Rampura Police Station Md. Mashiur Rahman.
Former Sub-Inspector (SI) of Rampura Police Station Tarikul Islam Bhuiyan was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The Tribunal began reading the judgment at 11:48 a.m. Upon the Tribunal granting permission, the pronouncement of the judgment was televised live.
The proceedings commenced with Tribunal Chairman Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder reading out the findings regarding the accused. Judge Mohitul Haque Enam then read the formal charges, while Justice Shafiul Alam Mahmud pronounced the verdict.
Earlier, at 11:35 a.m., Chanchal Chandra Sarkar, the only accused who had been arrested, was produced before the Tribunal. The remaining four accused remain absconding.
According to the prosecution, on 19 July 2024, during the student-led mass uprising, Amir Hossain climbed onto an under-construction building beside the Banasree–Meradia Road in Rampura in an attempt to escape police gunfire. Police officers allegedly pursued him into the building. At one stage, while Amir was hanging from the roof ledge by gripping exposed reinforcing rods, two police officers fired six rounds at him. Although he survived, he sustained serious injuries.
On the same day, Nadim and Maya Islam were killed in police firing in the Banasree area.