The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has framed charges of crimes against humanity against 26 people over the killings of 11 people, including July Uprising martyr Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho, in Dhaka’s Uttara in July 2024.
The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, passed the order on Sunday (October 11), formally paving the way for the trial. The other members of the panel are Judges Md Manjurul Bashid and Noor Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.
The tribunal scheduled November 4 for the prosecution’s opening statement and the recording of witness testimony.
Eight accused were present in court when Justice Chowdhury read out the two charges in Bangla. All eight pleaded not guilty and sought justice from the tribunal.
Earlier, on September 9, Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim conducted the hearing on behalf of the prosecution. Advocate M Liton Ahmed represented the accused, while state-appointed lawyers Md Amir Hossain and M Hasan Imam represented the absconding accused.
The eight accused in custody are former Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Uttara Division Mirza Salahuddin; former officer-in-charge of Uttara East Police Station Md Mujibur Rahman; former Azampur Police Outpost constable Md Hossain Ali; Uttara East Thana Awami League president Monowar Islam Chowdhury Robin; Jubo League president Md Delwar Hossain Rubel; Awami League leader Md Sohel Rana; ward-level Swechchhasebak League vice-president Md Shah Alam; and Awami League activist Md Irfanul Haque Ghazi of Turag.
The 18 absconding accused include former lawmaker Habib Hasan and former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, along with former police officials from Uttara Division and its police stations.
The others are former Uttara Division Deputy Commissioner of Police Kazi Ashraful Azim; former Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Tohidul Islam; former Assistant Commissioner of Police Sumon Kar; former Uttara West Police Station officer-in-charge BM Farman Ali; former Uttara East Police Station inspector (operations) Mahmudul Hasan; and former constable Md Abu Chhayem.
The list also includes Awami League leader Md Alauddin Al Sohel; former Dhaka North City Corporation councillors Jahangir Hossain, Md Farid Ahmed, DM Shamim, Md Anisur Rahman Naim and Md Afsar Uddin Khan; former Uttara East Police Station sub-inspector Khaled Anwar and assistant sub-inspector Md Rokonuzzaman; former Uttara West Thana Chhatra League vice-president Murtafa Bin Omar; and Jubo League leader Zakir Hossain of Turag.
According to the prosecution's account presented before the tribunal, the charges relate to the killings of 11 people in Uttara on July 18 and 19, 2024, during the crackdown on the July Uprising.
The first charge concerns the events of July 18, when Mugdho, a student of Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), was distributing water and biscuits to protesters and helping transport injured people to hospitals.
Mugdho was allegedly shot while carrying out these activities. Fellow protesters took him to Crescent Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Five other people — Zahiduzzaman Tanvin, Sheikh Fahmin Zafar, Md Shakil Hossain, Md Sabbir Hossain and Sajib Sarkar — were also allegedly killed by gunfire that day.
Uber driver Mokhlesur Rahman Durjoy was allegedly crushed to death beneath an armoured personnel carrier in Uttara.
The second charge relates to the deaths of Ridwan Sharif, Md Sabbir Islam, Md Asadullah and Naima Sultana on July 19. The prosecution alleges that they were killed in indiscriminate firing during the protests in Uttara.
The trial will proceed with the prosecution’s opening statement and witness testimony scheduled for November 4.