Tribunal hears testimony in Chankharpul killings

Testimony is still being heard in the case pending in the tribunal over the killing of six people in Chankharpul in the capital during the July-August uprising. Four accused were produced before the tribunal on Thursday (August 21) morning. The main accused in the case, former Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Habibur Rahman, and four others are still absconding. Notices have also been published in newspapers for their appearance. Earlier, the tribunal took cognizance of the formal charges in the case on May 25. Meanwhile, it will be known today whether the trial of 16 accused in the case of crimes against humanity in the case of killing seven people, including the burning of six bodies in Ashulia in connection with the July-August movement, will begin. The judicial panel led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, Chairman of the International Crimes Tribunal-2, has scheduled an order on framing charges against the accused. The Tribunal-2 set the date for August 13. The hearing of the accused in the tribunal ended on that day. After the hearing, today’s date was set for the order for framing the charges. The prosecution concluded the hearing on the framing of charges on August 7. Prosecutor Mizanul Islam and Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim conducted the hearing on that day. The police produced eight accused in the case on that day. Eight others, including fugitive former MP Saiful Islam, were also supposed to appear. However, since they did not appear, two lawyers were appointed on their behalf at the government’s expense. Earlier, a newspaper notice was issued to arrest the eight absconding accused in the case and bring them before the tribunal. The Tribunal-2 gave this order on July 16. The prosecution submitted a formal complaint to the tribunal against 16 people in the case on July 2. Along with the formal complaint, 313 pages, 62 witnesses, 168 pages of documentary evidence and two pen drives have been added as other sources of information. Later, the tribunal took cognizance of the charges brought against 16 people in this case. At the same time, arrest warrants were issued against eight absconding accused. On August 5 last year, six youths lost their lives in police firing in Ashulia, Savar. Then their bodies were taken out in a police van and set on fire. One person was alive at the time of this brutal incident. But they did not let him live either. The people were burnt alive by pouring petrol on them. A case was filed with the International Crimes Tribunal on September 11, alleging crimes against humanity in this incident.