The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Sunday framed charges against former Awami League lawmaker Mohammad Habib Hasan, former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman and 24 others in a crimes against humanity case over the killing of Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho and 10 others in Dhaka’s Uttara during the July mass uprising.
A three-member tribunal, headed by Chairman Justice Md Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, framed charges against the accused and ordered the trial to begin. The other members of the tribunal are Judges Md Manjurul Bashid and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.
The tribunal has set 4 November for opening statements and the recording of witness testimony.
Prosecutors Faruk Ahmed, Marjina Raihan, Tarek Abdullah, Moinul Karim and Shahidul Islam Sardar appeared for the prosecution during the hearing.
Defence lawyers Sultan Mahmud and Abul Hasan, along with other state-appointed lawyers, represented the accused.
Eight detained accused were produced before the tribunal on Sunday morning. In their presence, the tribunal chairman read out the two charges. When asked to enter their pleas, the accused present in the dock pleaded not guilty and sought justice.
Of the 26 accused, eight are in custody, while the remaining 18 are absconding.
The eight detained accused are Mirza Salahuddin, former additional deputy commissioner of the DMP’s Uttara Division; Md Mojibur Rahman, former officer-in-charge of Uttara East Police Station; Md Hossain Ali, former constable at Azampur Police Outpost; Monowar Islam Chowdhury Robin, president of the Uttara West thana unit of the Awami League; Md Delwar Hossain Rubel, a Jubo League president; Awami League leader Md Sohel Rana; Md Shah Alam, vice-president of a ward unit of the Swechchhasebak League; and Md Irfanul Haque Gazi, an Awami League activist in the Turag thana area.
The 18 accused at large include former Dhaka-18 MP Mohammad Habib Hasan, former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, former deputy commissioner of police for the DMP’s Uttara Division Kazi Ashraful Azim, former additional deputy commissioner Md Tohidul Islam, former assistant commissioner Suman Kar, former officer-in-charge of Uttara West Police Station BM Farman Ali, former operations inspector of Uttara East Police Station Mahmudul Hasan, former constable of the same station Md Abu Sayem, former sub-inspector Khaled Anwar and former assistant sub-inspector Md Rokonuzzaman.
The list also includes former Dhaka North City Corporation councillors Jahangir Hossain, also known as Yuvraj; Md Farid Ahmed; DM Shamim; Md Anichur Rahman Naim; and Md Afছar Uddin Khan; Awami League leader Md Alauddin Al Sohel; Murtafa Bin Omar, also known as Sathil, vice-president of the Uttara West thana unit of the Chhatra League; and Jubo League leader Zakir Hossain, also known as Mithu, from the Turag thana unit of the Awami League.
Two charges over killings on 18 and 19 July
The prosecution has brought two charges against the accused, describing the alleged incidents as planned, widespread and systematic crimes against humanity.
The first charge concerns alleged indiscriminate firing on 18 July in and around the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Uttara to suppress the anti-discrimination student and public movement.
According to the prosecution, Mir Mugdho, an MBA student at Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), was shot dead in Sector 3 of Uttara while helping take injured people to hospitals and distributing water and biscuits among protesters. The charge also alleges that Jahiduzzaman Tanvin, Sheikh Fahmin Zafar, Md Shakil Hossain, Md Sabbir Hossain and Sajib Sarker were shot dead in Uttara on the same day.
It further alleges that Uber driver Mokhlesur Rahman, also known as Durjoy, was crushed under the rear wheel of a police armoured personnel carrier (APC). His body was then thrown into the Turag River to conceal the killing.
The first charge also alleges that five people, including Mehedi Hasan, were shot and seriously injured with the intention of killing them.
The second charge relates to alleged indiscriminate firing on protesters in the same area on 19 July, resulting in the deaths of Ridwan Sharif, also known as Riyad Joy; Md Sabbir Islam; Md Asadullah; and Naima Sultana.
The prosecution also alleges that Raisul Rahman Ratul was shot and seriously injured in an attempt to kill him. The tribunal’s order paves the way for the trial to proceed, with opening statements and witness testimony scheduled to begin on 4 November.
