Shawdesh Desk;
In a significant headway in the pursuit of justice for crimes against humanity committed during the 2024 mass uprising, verdicts in some cases are expected this year as probes into some incidents have already been completed and formal trials are going to begin this month.
The prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on 21 April placed the probe report into the Chankharpool massacre case before the tribunal, while they are going to submit a formal charge sheet in the case this week.
The formal trial in the case, which was filed in connection with the killing of seven students during the student-led mass movement in Chankharpool area in the capital on 5 August, will begin after submission of the charge sheet.
On the other hand, the investigation in connection with the case filed against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over crimes against humanity during the 2024 mass uprising is almost completed.
ICT Chief Prosecutor Advocate Muhammad Tajul Islam on Friday said the investigation agency is expected to submit the probe report into Hasina’s involvement in genocide on Monday. “After the probe report is submitted, the formal trial of Hasina will begin through the filing of formal charges,” he said.
About the Chankharpool massacre case, he said the formal charges in the case will be submitted this week, and through this, the formal trial of the July massacre will begin.
After the formal charges are framed, there are usually some more stages to complete the trial. If it takes time to complete the stages, the verdict is delayed. There is evidence of the 2024 mass killings, there are witnesses, and since the trial process began without delay after the incidents, the trial process will also be completed quickly. Although it will take a few more days to complete the trial of all the incidents that took place in July and August last year, the verdicts in 1-2 cases that are starting their formal trial process this month are possible by next August.
A lawyer said after the formal charges are filed, the tribunal begins the formal trial. In that time, the chief prosecutor provides witness lists and supporting documents. The trial itself involves both sides presenting their cases, examining witnesses, and then the tribunal pronounces verdicts.
Sources at the ICT said alongside the Chankharpool massacre case, it is likely to deliver a verdict in one of the three cases filed against Sheikh Hasina with the ICT by August.
One of the cases names Hasina and former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun for direct involvement in crimes against humanity during the July uprising. This investigation is in its final stage.
Another case involves allegations of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings during the 15 and half years of the Awami League regime, while the third case was filed over the killings during the Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel in 2013.
The three-member tribunal, headed by its Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, is carrying out the trial proceedings. Meanwhile, a second tribunal called ICT-2 has already been formed to ensure swift justice.
Eight cops were accused in the case filed over the Chankharpool massacre. They are former commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Habibur Rahman, former DMP Joint Commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former Additional Deputy Commissioner (Ramna Zone) Shah Alam, former Assistant Commissioner Md Imrul, former Inspector (Operations) of Shahbagh Police Station Arshad Hossain, and constables Sujon, Imad Hossain, and Nasirul Islam. Four of the accused– Arshad, Sujon, Imad and Nasirul Islam– are currently in custody, while the four others are on the run.
According to the probe report, the accused cops used lethal force during the 2024 mass uprising, opening fire in the Chankharpool area and killing students Shahriar Khan Anas, Sheikh Mahdi Hasan Zunaid, Md Yakub, Md Rakib Hawlader, Md Ismamul Haque, and Manik Miah Shahri.
The 90-page probe report was prepared and submitted within six and a half months of initiating the investigation.
The Chankharpool killings were among the deadliest episodes during the 2024 mass uprising, which ultimately led to the ouster of the Awami League government.
The ICT investigation agency has also completed probes in connection with two other cases filed over the burning of six bodies in Ashulia of Savar, and the shooting of an unarmed youth named Amir Hossain in Rampura area in the capital while he was reportedly hanging from a building’s ledge.
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