M K Alam From ICT — In a historic and landmark judgment, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT) on Sunday sentenced three senior police officials to death and another to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity committed during the July mass uprising.
The cases involve the horrific shooting of a young man hanging from the cornice of an under-construction building in Rampura and the brutal killing of two other individuals, including a minor.
The three-member judicial panel, led by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Mojumder, delivered the verdict on Sunday morning.
The other members of the bench were Justice Shafiul Alam and Justice Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury. The formal reading of the judgment was broadcast live on national television and social media platforms.
The individuals handed the death penalty are Habibur Rahman, the former Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP)—who had already received a death sentence in the separate Chankharpul case—along with former Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of the DMP’s Khilgaon zone, Md. Rashedul Islam, and former Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Rampura Police Station, Md. Mashiur Rahman. All three high-ranking officials remain fugitives.
Furthermore, the tribunal sentenced former Sub-Inspector (SI) of Rampura Police Station, Tarikul Islam Bhuiyan, to life imprisonment, who is also currently absconding.
In contrast, the former Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of the Rampura police outpost, Chanchal Chandra Sarkar, was handed a 20-year prison sentence.
Sarkar is the only convict currently in custody and was physically produced before the heavily secured tribunal for the announcement of the verdict.
This marks the fifth verdict delivered regarding crimes against humanity perpetrated during the student-led July mass uprising that reshaped the nation’s political landscape.
The Charges and Grievous Atrocities
The prosecution had framed three distinct and specific charges of state-sponsored violence against the accused, all dating back to the bloodshed of July 19, 2024, in Dhaka’s Banasree and Rampura neighborhoods:
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The First Charge: The targeted shooting and murder of an ordinary citizen, Md. Nadim Hossain, during the afternoon hours in the Banasree area.
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The Second Charge: Opening fire on Amir Hossain, who was captured in widely circulated media footage desperately hanging from the concrete cornice of an under-construction building to save his life. Hossain suffered near-fatal injuries from the attack.
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The Third Charge: A devastating sniper attack that claimed the life of Maya Islam and critically wounded her seven-year-old grandson, Basit Khan Musa, after a bullet pierced through the minor’s head before striking the grandmother.
A Protracted Journey to Justice
The investigative agency of the ICT officially submitted its comprehensive probe report to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office on July 31 of last year. Following extensive scrutiny of the evidence, the prosecution filed formal charges on August 7.
The tribunal formally indicted the accused police officials on September 18. Witness testimonies began on October 23 and concluded on January 13 of this year, followed by closing legal arguments which wrapped up on February 3.
While the court originally scheduled the verdict for March 4, the date was deferred following an emergency petition by the prosecution.
Subsequently, on June 15, the bench designated today for the final ruling, satisfying a long-awaited demand for state accountability.
The unprecedented conviction of top-tier law enforcement personnel by the ICT underscores a defining moment in the country’s judiciary, signaling a zero-tolerance policy toward structural human rights abuses.
However, as four out of the five convicted officers remain on the run, the ultimate test for the interim administration lies in their immediate capture and the execution of the sentences.
For the families of the victims in Rampura, today’s verdict brings legal closure, but the physical and emotional scars of that bloody July afternoon remain deeply etched in the national consciousness.