A Dhaka tribunal has sentenced three former police officials to death in a case over crimes against humanity committed in Rampura during the July uprising, in which two people were killed and another injured.
The convicts are former Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Habibur Rahman, former additional deputy commissioner (Khilgaon Zone) Md Rashidul Islam, and former officer‑in‑charge of Rampura Police Station Md Moshiur Rahman.
On Sunday, the International Crimes Tribunal‑1 also sentenced former ASI Chanchal Chandra Sarkar to 20 years in prison and former SI Tarikul Islam Bhuiyan to life imprisonment.
The verdict was broadcast live with the tribunal’s permission.
Chanchal has been arrested and is in police custody, while the other convicts remain absconding.
The tribunal initially set 4 March for the verdict, but it was deferred after the prosecution sought permission to submit additional digital evidence, following which key witness Amir Hossain was recalled for further testimony.
On 15 June, the ICT‑1 fixed the date (28 June) for pronouncement of the judgment in the case. During closing arguments, lawyer Sarwar Jahan Nippon, representing accused Chanchal Chandra Sarkar, claimed that his client was not involved in the incident.
The tribunal framed charges in the case on 18 September last year, formally initiating the trial. The prosecution submitted the formal chargesheet on 7 August, while the investigation report was filed on 31 July.
According to the case documents, Amir Hossain was returning home after Friday prayers on 19 July 2024, when he was trapped in clashes near Rampura.
As police opened fire, he took shelter on the fourth floor of an under-construction building. Police later pursued protesters and reached the fourth floor, where Amir Hossain was allegedly ordered to jump while being threatened with firearms.
One officer reportedly fired shots to intimidate him. In fear, he hung onto the construction rods after jumping from the building.
A police member allegedly fired six rounds from the third floor, hitting him in both legs. Later Amir Hossain managed to descend and was rescued and taken to hospital, surviving the attack.
On the same day, two others — Nadim and Maya Islam — were killed in police firing in the Banashree area of Rampura.
