The International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2) on Sunday framed charges against 11 individuals, including ex-DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, for the murder of Imam Hasan Taim in the capital’s Jatrabari area.
With this order, the formal trial for crimes against humanity in this case has officially commenced.
The tribunal has scheduled 29 March for the opening statements.
During the proceedings, two arrested accused – the then officer-in-charge (OC) of Jatrabari Police Station, Abul Hasan, and former Sub-Inspector (SI) Shahadat Ali – pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to the prosecution, Taim was shot dead at close range on 20 July 2024, in the Kajla area of Jatrabari.
The incident allegedly occurred under the orders of then-DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, Joint Commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, and other senior officials.
The accused face allegations of ordering murder, incitement, and crimes against humanity.
The charge-framing hearing concluded on 2 February. The prosecution was represented by Prosecutors Mizanul Islam, Gazi MH Tamim, Faruk Ahmed, and Abdus Sobhan Tarafder.
While two suspects are in custody, the remaining nine accused are currently fugitives.
They include former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, former joint commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former deputy commissioner (Wari Zone) Iqbal Hossain, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Shakil Mohammad Shamim, former ADC (Demra Zone) Md Masudur Rahman Monir, former assistant police commissioner Nahid Ferdous, former police inspector (Investigation) of Jatrabari Police Station Zakir Hossain, Inspector (Operations) Ohidul Haque Mamun, and SI (Unarmed) Sajjad Uz Zaman.
The court had previously issued arrest warrants against all 11 accused on 24 December. Taim was martyred by police fire during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. His friend, Rahat, was also shot by police while attempting to save him. Notably, the victim’s father, Md Moynal Hossain Bhuiyan, is a police officer.
