ICT-1 rebukes investigators over failure to arrest accused in Rampura case

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 today expressed dissatisfaction with the investigation agency's handling of arrests in a crimes against humanity case committed in Dhaka's Rampura area during the July uprising.

During the charge framing hearing, the tribunal inquired whether the remaining accused of the case were in the country or abroad.

Chief prosecutor Tajul Islam said it was unclear.

Tribunal member Justice Shofiul Alam Mahmood said, "There are allegations that even after tracing the accused, they are not being arrested. You have been given the power to arrest. Even after that, only a small number have been apprehended."

In response, Tajul Islam suggested such remarks might be inappropriate in the open court, but Justice Shofiul Alam Mahmood pressed, "Why should we not say? You have been given the power to arrest."

Tajul Islam explained, "Immediately after a revolution, many accused fled. Although we have the authority to arrest, we do not have weapons at our disposal."

The prosecution concluded the charge framing hearing today while the defence lawyers, including the state-appointed counsel for the absconding accused and the defense for the arrested accused, submitted discharge petitions.

The tribunal fixed next Tuesday (September 16) for the charge framing order.

In the Rampura case, former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman and four others have been named as accused.

Only one, former assistant sub-inspector Chanchal Chandra Sarkar, is currently in custody, while the remaining four are on the run.

The accused include former Khilgaon zone additional deputy commissioner Rashedul Islam, the then Rampura Police Station officer-in-charge Mashiur Rahman and sub-inspector Tarikul Islam Bhuiyan.

The case stemmed from alleged crimes against humanity committed in Rampura during the July uprising. On July 19 last year, six-year-old Musa was shot and critically injured during police action; the same bullet fatally struck his grandmother, Maya Islam. Another victim, Md Nadim, was also shot dead.

In a separate incident that day, a video circulated on social media showing 18-year-old Amir Hossain hanging from the ledge of an under-construction building, with footage appearing to show two policemen firing at him at close range.