July atrocities: ICT’s probe agency submits its first report

The investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal has found the involvement of eight police personnel, including former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman, in crimes, including killings, committed during last year's mass uprising in the capital's Chankharpool area.

On Sunday, the agency submitted its probe report -- the first related to crimes against humanity committed during the uprising -- to the office of the Chief Prosecutor.

Habibur Rahman and several other accused were allegedly involved under the principle of command responsibility, while other police personnel directly participated in the killings of six protesters that took place in the city's Chankharpool on August 5.

Disclosing the information at a press briefing at his office yesterday, ICT Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam said that they would now scrutinise the report and supporting evidence and file formal charges against the accused to the tribunal in a few days.

"Once the formal charges are submitted to the court, the official trial process will begin," he added.

The other accused are Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, the then DMP joint commissioner; Sha Alam Mohammad Akhtarul Islam, former additional deputy commissioner; Mohammad Imrul, former assistant commissioner of Ramna Zone of DMP; Arshad Hossain, former police inspector (operation) at Shahbagh Police Station; and constables Sujon, Imaz Hossain, and Nasirul Islam.

Arshad Hossain, Sujon, Imaz Hossain, and Nasirul Islam are in jail, while the others are on the run.

Tajul Islam said, "Former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, acting on the prime minister's directive to use deadly force against the protesters, had instructed the entire police force via wireless message to kill the July revolutionaries."

"That audio recording has also been examined and submitted as evidence," Tajul said.

The investigation report mentions the involvement of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the former home minister, and the then IGP. However, they are not included in this probe report, as separate investigations are ongoing. A separate investigation report will be filed for them, and formal charges will be filed accordingly, said the chief prosecutor.

Mentioning the widespread and systematic crime against humanity committed during the July uprising, Tajul said different state forces directly took part in the atrocities. Firearms, deadly weapons, drones, helicopters and armoured personnel carriers (APCs) were used to suppress unarmed student protesters demanding democratic reform and to cling to power.

The victims named in this case are Shahriar Khan Anas; Sheikh Mahdi Hasan Junayed; Mohammad Yakub; Rakib Hawlader; Ismamul Haque and Manik Mia.

Beyond the killings of these six individuals, Tajul noted that other incidents of crimes against humanity also took place in the same area at different times. Apart from law enforcers, the Awami League, its youth wing, the Jubo League, was also involved. Probes into those events remain ongoing, with further reports expected to be submitted against the alleged perpetrators in due course.

He said the main portion of the investigation report of the Chankharpool killings spans 90 pages, with supporting documents held in separate volumes. It took 195 days to complete the investigation.

The probe report is supported by 19 video recording, two audio recordings, including a controversial phone call purportedly from the former prime minister ordering the use of lethal force, 11 press clippings, 11 reports from international and domestic human rights organisations, including those by the United Nations and Human Rights Watch and six death certificates of the deceased student activists as evidences.

The report also contains testimonies of 79 witnesses, some of which may be dropped at the end, Tajul added.

Asked whether the limited number of accused diminishes the gravity of the allegations, Tajul responded that the intention is to prosecute only those with direct involvement and command responsibility.

"Prosecuting every single officer would dilute the core of justice. We are focusing on those with direct culpability — those who issued the orders and those who executed them," he added.

The next charge sheet, concerning the alleged burning of corpses and a man still alive in Ashulia, is expected to be finalised within a week.