Chankharpool killings: Next hearing set for Sept 7

The International Crimes Tribunal has scheduled the next hearing for September 7 in the high-profile Chankharpool killings, where six people were killed during the July-August protests in the capital. The case names former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman and seven others as accused.

Tribunal-1, chaired by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Mozumder, issued the order following a prosecution request. The two-member judicial panel announced the date on Thursday.

On August 21, the tribunal completed the fourth day of witness testimonies and cross-examinations. Notably, Md. Jahangir Hossain and Rahat Howlader, father and elder brother of martyr Rakib Hossain Howlader, testified demanding exemplary punishment for the killers.

Earlier, on August 13, witnesses included martyr Yakub’s mother Rahima Akter, her neighbor Shahid Ahmed, and martyr Md. Ismamul Haque’s brother Mohibul Haque. On August 12, two witnesses testified: college associate professor Anjuara Yasmin and Sheikh Jamal Hasan, father of Sheikh Mahdi Hasan Junaid.

The prosecution began its case on August 11, when Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam delivered the opening statement. The first witness was martyr Anas’s father, Sahariya Khan Palash. So far, eight prosecution witnesses have completed their testimonies.

On the scheduled hearing date, four accused former OC (Operations) of Shahbagh Police Station Md. Arshad Hossain, Constable Md. Sujan Mia, Md. Imaz Hossain Emon, and Md. Nasirul Islam were produced from jail.

Four accused remain fugitives: former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, former Joint Commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former Additional Deputy Commissioner Shah Alam Md. Akhtarul Islam, and former Assistant Commissioner Mohammad Imrul.

On July 14, the tribunal framed charges against all eight accused and ordered the trial to proceed.