ICT verdict in Rampura police shooting, killing case deferred

The International Crimes Tribunal has deferred its verdict in a crimes against humanity case over the shooting of a youth and the killing of two others during the July uprising in Rampura, following a prosecution plea to submit additional evidence.
The three-member International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-1), headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, on Wednesday granted the prosecution four weeks to place fresh material before the court. However, the tribunal did not fix a new date for the verdict or the next hearing.
ICT prosecutor Barrister Shyikh Mahdi sought the time, while another prosecutor, Mizanul Islam, told the tribunal that new digital evidence had recently emerged and needed to be formally submitted.
The tribunal had earlier set 4 March for delivering its verdict. The prosecution concluded its closing arguments on 29 January, and the defence wrapped up on 3 February. On 23 February, Md Aminul Islam was appointed ICT chief prosecutor, replacing Advocate Muhammad Tajul Islam.
Speaking to reporters, Aminul Islam said the law allows prosecutors to submit additional evidence at any stage if important material was previously omitted. 
He said that after assuming office, he began reviewing cases individually, proceeding with those deemed investigation-ready and sending others back for further work where necessary.
There are five accused in the case: former commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Habibur Rahman; former additional deputy commissioner of the DMP’s Khilgaon division Md Rashedul Islam; former Rampura police station officer-in-charge Md Moshiur Rahman; former sub-inspector Tarikul Islam Bhuiyan; and former assistant sub-inspector Chanchal Chandra Sarkar of the Rampura police outpost.
Only Chanchal is currently in custody; the remaining four are absconding. Chanchal, who allegedly fired the shots, was arrested on 26 January 2025 from Dighinala in Khagrachhari.
Aminul Islam said prosecutors had found a video recording of what he described as an “extrajudicial confession” by Chanchal, in which he allegedly explains how he fired and under whose instructions. The video, he said, had not been submitted earlier due to an oversight. “Such a strong piece of evidence needs to be placed before the tribunal,” he added. The case stems from events on 19 July 2024, when Amir Hossain was shot while clinging to the cornice of an under-construction building in the Banasree area after panicking upon seeing police and Border Guard Bangladesh vehicles. The accused are also charged with killing two others, Nadim and Maya Islam, on the same day.