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The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Sunday sentenced three former police officials, including former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman, to death for crimes against humanity committed during the July Mass Uprising in Rampura, where two people were killed and two others injured.
The tribunal also sentenced former Sub-Inspector Tarikul Islam Bhuiyan to life imprisonment, while former Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Chanchal Chandra Sarkar was handed 20 years in prison for their roles in the same case.
The other two death-row convicts are former Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of DMP’s Khilgaon Division Md Rashedul Islam and former Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Rampura Police Station Md Moshiur Rahman. The three condemned convicts remain fugitives and were tried in absentia.
The verdict was delivered by a three-member tribunal headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder. The court began reading out the judgment at 11:50 am before pronouncing the sentences around noon.
This is the first verdict by the International Crimes Tribunal in a case relating to the July Mass Uprising, in which security forces are accused of committing crimes against humanity during the nationwide protests.
According to the prosecution, the case stemmed from incidents in Rampura where police opened fire on protesters during the July movement. Among the allegations was the shooting of a student who was hanging from the cornice of a building while trying to escape, as well as the killing of two other people and injuries to two more.
The prosecution argued that the attacks formed part of a widespread and systematic assault on civilians during the mass uprising and therefore constituted crimes against humanity under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act.
Earlier, the tribunal had fixed June 28 for delivering the judgment after concluding hearings on June 15.
The prosecution submitted the formal charges on August 7, 2025, accusing the five former police officers of their involvement in the deadly incidents in Rampura.
On September 18, 2025, the tribunal formally framed charges against former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, former ADC Md Rashedul Islam, former OC Md Moshiur Rahman, former Sub-Inspector Tarikul Islam Bhuiyan and former ASI Chanchal Chandra Sarkar.
During the trial, the prosecution produced 13 witnesses, including the investigation officer, to substantiate the charges.
In its closing arguments, the prosecution sought the maximum punishment for all five accused, arguing that the evidence clearly established their involvement in crimes against humanity committed against unarmed civilians during the July Mass Uprising.
After examining the evidence, witness testimonies and relevant documents, the tribunal found three of the accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced them to death. It also awarded life imprisonment to one accused and 20 years’ imprisonment to another.
The verdict marks a significant milestone in the prosecution of cases related to the July Mass Uprising, with several other trials involving allegations of unlawful killings, enforced disappearances and other crimes against humanity currently pending before the International Crimes Tribunal.