Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Md Aminul Islam on Sunday welcomed the Tribunal’s verdict in the Rampura crimes against humanity case, saying it had delivered justice to the families of those killed and injured during July mass uprising.
“I express my gratitude to Almighty Allah. A proper verdict has been delivered,” he told journalists at the Tribunal premises shortly after the judgment was announced.
“We are satisfied with this verdict. We believe the families of the martyrs and the injured have received justice through this judgment,” he said.
The Tribunal sentenced former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman, former Khilgaon Zone Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Rashedul Islam and former Rampura Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mashiur Rahman to death after finding them guilty of crimes against humanity committed during the July 2024 uprising.
Former Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Chanchal Chandra Sarkar was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment, while former Sub-Inspector (SI) Tarikul Islam received life imprisonment.
Explaining the basis of the verdict, the chief prosecutor said the prosecution had proved that then DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman issued a wireless message in July 2024 instructing subordinate officers to shoot protesters in the legs to suppress the anti-discrimination movement.
“Although the instruction was to fire at the legs, in reality shots were fired at the chests and heads of protesters,” he said.
According to the prosecution, the accused carried out indiscriminate firing in Rampura on 19 July 2024, killing Maya Islam and Nadim.
Aminul Islam also said former ASI Chanchal Chandra Sarkar had confessed to opening fire indiscriminately at Amir Hossein while he was hanging from a cornice. The Tribunal found the charge proven on the basis of his confession and other evidence, convicting him on one of the three charges while acquitting him of the remaining two.
