Chankharpul killings: ICT-1 sets 20 January for delivering judgment

Bangla Press Desk:  The International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Wednesday fixed 20 January for delivering its judgment in the case filed over the killing of six students during July-August movement in Dhaka's Chankharpul area.

A three-member ICT bench led by its chairman Justice Golam Martuza Majumdar passed the order after concluding the law-point arguments in the case.

Four accused in the case -- Inspector Arshad Hossain, constable Md Sujon Mia, Constable Emaz Hossain Emon and Constable Nasirul Islam -- were produced before the tribunal.

The four fugitive accused are former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, former joint commissioner of DMP Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former additional deputy commissioner (Ramna zone) Shah Alam Md Akhtarul Islam and former assistant commissioner (Ramna zone) Mohammad.

On 14 July, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 framed charges against the eight policemen in the case.

Earlier on 25 May, the ICT-1 took the charges into cognisance when the chief prosecutor of ICT Tajul Islam submitted a chargesheet in the Chankharpul killing.

On 21 April, the investigation agency of the ICT submitted its report accusing eight policemen in the case.

The 90-page report was prepared and submitted to the prosecution within 195 days of initiating the investigation.

According to the report, six people -- Shahriar Khan Anas, Sheikh Mahdi Hassan Junayed, Md Yakub, Md Rakib Hawladar, Md Ismamul Haque and Manik Mia -- were killed in police firing during protests in Chankharpul area on 5 August last year.

Tajul Islam said the report includes evidence collected through various video footages of direct involvement of some accused in the shooting.

Others, mostly senior officials, were charged under the doctrine of command responsibility.

BP/SP