The verdict in a crimes against humanity case involving the shooting of Amir Hossain, who was hanging from the ledge of an under-construction building during the July uprising in Dhaka’s Rampura, and the killing of two others, will be announced on 4 March.
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 set the date after arguments concluded on Sunday.
Defense lawyers argued that their client had no involvement in the charges brought by the prosecution. The prosecution, however, sought the maximum sentence for five accused, including former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman.
The other accused are former Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of DMP’s Khilgaon Zone Md Rashedul Islam, former Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Rampura Police Station Md Mashiur Rahman, former Sub-Inspector (SI) of Rampura Police Station Tarikul Islam Bhuiyan, and then Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Rampura Police Outpost Chanchal Chandra Sarkar. Among them, Chanchal Chandra Sarkar has already been arrested and is in custody.
The trial began on 18 September last year when the court framed charges against the accused. On 7 August, Prosecutor Faruk Ahmed filed formal charges, while the investigation agency submitted its report to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office on 31 July.
According to the charges, on 19 July 2024, during the mass uprising, Amir Hossain was returning home after Friday prayers when he was caught in a clash near his residence. As police opened fire, he ran to the fourth floor of an under-construction building for shelter.
Police chased protesters into the building and confronted Amir Hossain. Officers pointed firearms at him and repeatedly ordered him to jump. One officer fired several shots to intimidate him.
Being terrified, Amir jumped and clung to iron rods protruding from the building. From the third floor, a police officer fired six shots at him, hitting both his legs.
After police left, Amir managed to fall onto the third floor, bleeding heavily. He was later rescued and taken to a local hospital, where he survived.
On the same day, in Rampura’s Banasree area, two people—Nadim and Maya Islam—were killed in police firing.
