ICT delivers five verdicts since July Uprising, former DMP chief sentenced twice in six months

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Sunday sentenced three former police officers, including former commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Habibur Rahman, to death over crimes against humanity committed in the capital’s Rampura area during the July Uprising, where two people were killed and two others injured.

The three-member bench of ICT-1, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, also awarded life imprisonment to another former police officer and sentenced another to 20 years in prison.

The charges involve three incidents: the shooting of a youth clinging to the cornice of an under-construction building in the capital's Rampura, and the killing of Nadim and Maya Islam during the violent days of July in 2024.

With this verdict, the number of verdicts delivered by the ICT has reached five.

The first verdict came on November 17 last year, when ICT-1 sentenced ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina to death.

Since then, the reconstituted International Crimes Tribunal has delivered four more verdicts in cases related to crimes against humanity committed during the July 2024 uprising.

“Since August 5, 2024, the tribunal has delivered five verdicts. Among them, former DMP Commissioner Habib is the only accused to have been convicted in two separate cases. Besides him, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, and others have each received verdicts in one case. However, several more cases against Sheikh Hasina are still pending," said ICT Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim.

Second death sentence for Habibur

The latest verdict marks Habibur Rahman's second death sentence within six months in two separate murder cases before ICT-1.

He was first sentenced to death on January 26 this year over the killing of six people, including Anas, in Chankharpul. In both cases, he was found guilty of ordering the use of lethal force as a superior commander.

The two others who received the maximum punishment were former DMP Joint Commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty and former Additional Deputy Commissioner of Ramna Division Shah Alam Mohammad Akhtarul Islam.

Among the eight accused, former Assistant Commissioner Mohammad Imrul was sentenced to six years in prison, former Shahbagh Police Station Inspector Arshad Hossain received four years, while three constables of the same police station—Md Sujan, Imaz Hossain Emon and Nasirul Islam – were each sentenced to three years in prison.

In their observations in both verdicts, the judges said former DMP chief Habibur, acting as a superior commander, had instructed subordinate police officers through wireless communication to use lethal firearms.

Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam said, "Former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman Habib was overly enthusiastic about the use of lethal weapons to suppress the July Uprising. He gave instructions over wireless communication to use lethal force. Acting on his orders, police officers carried out the killings. In both cases, he received the highest punishment, the death penalty, as a superior commander."

Five verdicts in ICT

Before Sunday's verdict, ICT-1 had delivered two other verdicts.

The first, delivered on November 17 last year, sentenced Sheikh Hasina to death for incitement, ordering killings, and failing to prevent atrocities during the July Uprising.

Former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal was also sentenced to death, while former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun was sentenced to five years' imprisonment.

The second verdict involved the killing of six people, including Anas, in Chankharpul on August 5, 2024.

Among the two verdicts delivered by ICT-2, the first concerned the killing of six people and the burning of their bodies in Ashulia on August 5, 2024.

The verdict, delivered on February 5 this year, sentenced six people, including former MP Saiful Islam, to death, while nine others received different prison terms.

The second verdict delivered by ICT-2 concerned the killing of Abu Sayeed in Rangpur, whose death escalated the 2024 uprising that toppled the government of Sheikh Hasina.

On February 9 this year, the tribunal sentenced two former police personnel to death, while 28 others received prison terms of varying durations, including life imprisonment.

Harrowing 2025 testimonies detail Rampura killings

Earlier in 2025, three victims and family members testified before the tribunal, recounting the events of July 19, 2024, and providing harrowing accounts of the violence in Rampura.

Amir Hossain, who survived after being shot while hanging from the ledge of an under-construction building, told the tribunal that police ordered him to jump before opening fire.

“One officer told me to jump down. I refused and continued hanging onto the rod. That police officer then fired three rounds at me with his pistol... Another police officer came and fired three more rounds... I lost consciousness,” he said.

Amir said he underwent lengthy treatment at several hospitals, including Dhaka Medical College Hospital, the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and CRP in Savar. 

He added, “I want punishment for those who shot me without any reason.”

Tabassum Akter Niha, wife of July uprising martyr Md Nadim Mizan, testified that her husband was shot after offering Friday prayers at a mosque in front of Rampura Police Station.

“I want justice for the murder of my husband. I hold former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the police officers who fired the shots responsible. My children also seek justice for the killing of their father,” she said.

Businessman Md Mostafizur Rahman, whose mother Maya Islam was killed and whose son Basit Khan Musa was critically injured, told the tribunal that a bullet fired by police struck his son in the head before hitting his mother.

“From the gate of my house, I could see the Officer-in-Charge of the police station, Mashiur Rahman, along with several other police officers, firing directly,” he claimed.

Breaking down in tears, he appealed to the judges, “I want justice for the killing of my mother and for what has happened to my son.”