ICT-1 defers verdict in the Rampura case

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday postponed its verdict in a crimes against humanity case involving the killing of two people and the shooting of two others in Rampura during the July 2024 uprising.

The delay followed a prosecution request to submit additional video evidence.

The tribunal had earlier scheduled yesterday for delivering the judgement after concluding witness testimonies and arguments from the defence and prosecution.

Speaking to journalists after the hearing, Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam said the prosecution had found a video showing accused Chanchal Chandra Sarkar, a former assistant sub-inspector of Rampura police outpost, making an extrajudicial confession. In it, Sarkar admitted his involvement in the killings, detailing whom he fired at and under whose orders.

“We believe such crucial evidence must be submitted, which is why we requested the tribunal to accept it,” Aminul said, noting that the law permits submission of additional evidence at any stage.

Alongside Chanchal, four other former police officers, including then Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Habibur Rahman, are accused in the case. Only Chanchal is in custody.

The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, set April 9 for submission of the new evidence. Chanchal’s bail plea was also rejected, with the tribunal citing the case’s advanced stage.

Aminul said he has reviewed all cases since taking charge on February 23 and identified several that may need re-investigation. “I am instructing the investigation officers concerned accordingly,” he added.

When asked about steps to bring back convicted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who was sentenced to death by the ICT-1 over crimes against humanity during the July 2024 uprising from India, Aminul said necessary actions would be taken but added he was unaware if any initiative had begun.

Meanwhile, ICT special investigating officer Tanvir Hassan Zoha appeared before the tribunal as a seizure-list witness in a case against Sajeeb Wazed Joy, former ICT adviser to Hasina, and former state minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak. The tribunal fixed March 10 for the next hearing.