Ex-DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, 4 others face arrest warrants over Rampura shooting

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has issued arrest warrants against former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman and four others in connection with crimes against humanity during last year's July Uprising in the capital.

The case involves the attempted killing of Amir Hossain, who was shot while clinging to the cornice of an under-construction building in Rampura on July 19, 2024. He had climbed the structure while fleeing from a police and BGB crackdown in the Banasree-Meradia area. A police officer reportedly fired six shots at Amir, causing him to fall from the fourth to the third floor. He survived after undergoing prolonged treatment.

On the same day, two others—Nadeem and Maya Islam—were killed in police firing in the same area, while Maya’s six-year-old grandson, Basit Khan Musa, was shot and remains speechless despite treatment in Singapore.

The tribunal issued the arrest orders on Sunday (August 10) following a prosecution application.

The accused include: Habibur Rahman, former DMP Commissioner, Md. Rashedul Islam, former ADC, Khilgaon Zone, Md. Mashiur Rahman, former Officer-in-Charge, Rampura Police Station, and Tariqul Islam Bhuiyan, former Sub-Inspector, Rampura Police Station. All four are currently absconding.

Additionally, Chanchal Chandra Sarkar, former Assistant Sub-Inspector of the Rampura Police Outpost—accused of shooting Amir Hossain—was arrested in January from Khagrachhari. He was ordered to appear before the tribunal on August 17.

The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder, took cognizance of the formal complaint on Sunday. The prosecution team was led by Gazi MH Tamim, with prosecutors Faruk Ahmed, Saimum Reza Talukder, Moinul Karim, and Abdus Sattar Palawan also present.

The formal charges were submitted on August 7, following the submission of the investigation report on July 31 by the investigation agency.