The prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal聽1 on Sunday urged the tribunal to frame charges of crimes against humanity against former Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Habibur Rahman and seven other police personnel.
The charges are related to the killing of six protesters at Chankharpool during the July 2024 mass uprising.
Chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam presented the arguments before the three-member tribunal led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder. The two other judges are Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmood and retired distict judge Md Mohitul Haque Anam Chawdhury.聽
The tribunal set July 1 for hearing the defence arguments.
Lawyers for four detained police officers and state defence counsel for the four fugitive accused are expected to argue for their discharge.
The ICT investigation agency formally submitted the charges on May 25.
The other accused include former joint commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former Ramna additional deputy commissioner Shah Alam Md Akhterul Islam, former Ramna assistant commissioner Mohammad Imrul, Shahbagh police inspector Ashrad Hossain, suspended constables Sujan Hossain, Imaz Hossain Imon and Nasirul Islam.
The tribunal earlier took cognisance of the charges.
This is the first case filed under the tribunal鈥檚 new jurisdiction to try crimes committed during the student-led uprising.
The tribunal was restructured by the interim government formed on August 8, 2024, following the ouster of then prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
According to the charges, the former DMP commissioner and senior officers ordered, encouraged and oversaw the use of lethal force against protesters.
The constables are accused of directly opening fire, killing six protesters on August 5, 2024.
The victims were Shahriar Khan Anas, a Class-X student who left a heartfelt letter for his mother before the protest, Sheikh Mahadi Hasan Zunayed Mostakin, Mohammad Yakib, Md Rakib Hawlader, Mohammad Ismail Haque, and 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Manik Mia, also known as Saharik Chowdhury.
The prosecution named 43 witnesses, including local government adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, also a leader of the uprising. He had led a procession at Chankharpool intending to join a larger rally at the Central Shaheed Minar.
Investigators said the Armed Police Battalion constable Md Sujan Hossain fired at the crowd from multiple positions, under direct orders from his senior officers.
Video footage and witness accounts support this claim, according to the report submitted in April by investigation officer Mohammad Monirul Islam.
