Death sentence for former Police Commissioner Habibur and two other defendants

In a landmark ruling today, three former senior officials of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), including ex-Commissioner Habibur Rahman, have been sentenced to death for crimes against humanity committed during the July popular uprising in the Chankharpul area of the capital.

The verdict was delivered by the International Crimes Tribunal-1, a three-member panel presided over by Justice Md. Golam Mortuja Majumder. The other tribunal members are Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Justice Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.

Justice Majumder read out the judgement, imposing capital punishment on former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, former Deputy Commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, and former Additional Deputy Commissioner of Ramna Zone Shah Alam Md. Akhtarul Islam. The tribunal also ordered the seizure of all assets belonging to the three convicts.

In addition, the tribunal handed down the following prison sentences: former Assistant Commissioner of DMP Ramna Zone Mohammad Imrul – six years; former Shahbagh police inspector Md. Arshad Hossain – four years; and three former constables – Md. Sujan Hossain, Imaz Hossain, and Md. Nasirul Islam – three years each.

Among the accused, four remain fugitives: Habibur, Sudip, Akhtarul, and Imrul. The remaining four, Arshad, Sujan, Imaz, and Nasirul, are currently in custody.

This is the second verdict in connection with crimes against humanity during the July uprising. The tribunal had previously delivered its first judgement on 17 November last year, sentencing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and ex-Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan to death. In that case, former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun received a five-year sentence after admitting his involvement and serving as an approver witness.

The Chankharpul case’s investigation report was submitted on 21 April 2025. The tribunal formally accepted the prosecution’s charges on 25 May 2025, and on 14 July 2025, formal charges were framed against eight accused. The trial officially commenced on 11 August 2025, with the chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam presenting the opening statement, and the first witness, Shahriar Khan Anas’s father, giving testimony. The prosecution presented 26 witnesses, while the defence also called witnesses. Evidence submission concluded on 10 December 2025, with final arguments completed by 24 December 2025.

Today’s verdict was initially scheduled for 20 January but was deferred and finally pronounced on 26 January.