Death Penalty for Former DMP Chief and 2 Others in Chankharpul Case
DHAKA – The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has sentenced three former senior police officers, including former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, to death in connection with the deaths of six individuals at Chankharpul in Dhaka during the student-led movement against Awami League regime one and a half years ago.
The landmark ruling follows their conviction for the killing of six individuals during the mass protests in Chankharpul during the July Uprising in August 2024.
The Verdict and the Convicted
On Monday (January 26), the three-member tribunal, presided over by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, delivered the judgment. Alongside the Chairman, the bench included Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired judge Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.
The court awarded the maximum penalty to:
Habibur Rahman (Former DMP Commissioner)
Sudip Kumar Chakraborty (Former Joint Commissioner)
Shah Alam Md Akhtarul Islam (Former ADC, Ramna Zone)
The tribunal confirmed that all three men were tried in absentia, as they remain fugitives from justice.
Prison Sentences for Other Officials
Beyond the capital punishment rulings, the ICT-1 also sentenced several other former law enforcement members to varying jail terms for their roles in the incident:
Mohammad Imrul (Former AC, Ramna Zone): Received a six-year sentence (currently absconding).
Md Arshad Hossain (Former Shahbagh Inspector): Received a four-year sentence.
Md Sujon, Imaz Hossain Emon, and Nasirul Islam (Former Constables): Each handed three-year prison terms.
The Incident and Legal Timeline
The prosecution’s case centered on the events of August 5, 2024. According to investigators, police forces opened fire on a peaceful student-led demonstration near Chankharpul. The gunfire claimed the lives of six individuals: Shahriar Khan Anas, Sheikh Mahdi Hasan Junaid, Md Yakub, Md Rakib Howlader, Md Ismamul Haque, and Manik Mia Shahrik.
The legal process for this case began in earnest on May 25, 2025, when the tribunal accepted the formal charges. Despite public notices published in June, the primary suspects failed to surrender, leading to a trial in absentia that officially commenced on July 14.
A Pattern of Accountability
This ruling marks the second major verdict by the ICT concerning crimes against humanity linked to the July-August mass uprising.
It follows a precedent set on November 17, 2025, when the tribunal sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan to death.
