The Prosecution Division has filed a formal complaint with the International Crimes Tribunal against former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman Habib and eight others for the killing of six people during a student uprising in the capital's Chankharpool. This marks the start of the formal trial process of the first case related to the July Uprising.
On April 20, the tribunal's investigation agency filed a full investigation report indicting 8 people in this case.
The trial process began with the official submission of that report to the tribunal on Sunday.
The prosecution department said it was submitted to a three-member bench led by Justice Golam Mortoza Majumder.
The accused include former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman, former Joint Commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former Additional Deputy Commissioners of Ramna region Shah Alam and Md. Akhtarul Islam, former Assistant Commissioner of Ramna region Mohammad Imrul, former Inspector of Shahbagh Police Station Md. Arshad Hossain, Constables Md. Sujan Hossain, Imaz Hossain and Md. Nasirul Islam.
The last four of them are currently in prison, while the rest are at large.
The case report states that on August 5 last year, police used lethal firearms to open fire on a peaceful student protest in the Chankharpul area. This resulted in many casualties. Members of the state forces directly participated in this operation.
The investigation report said that firearms, APC cars, helicopters, drones and a large amount of bullets were used to suppress the movement. Shahriar Khan Anas, Sheikh Mahdi Hasan Junaid, Md. Yakub, Md. Rakib Howlader, Md. Ismamul Haque and Manik Mia Shahrik were killed in this police operation.
The report further states that the other accused, including the absconding accused Habibur Rahman, were present at the scene and ordered their subordinates to open fire. The murder took place with their cooperation and instructions.
