DHAKA — The International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Monday framed charges and ordered the trial of former Jashore Superintendent of Police Anisur Rahman and seven others in a case over the shooting of two Islami Chhatra Shibir leaders in a staged gunfight in Chouggachha in 2016. The tribunal set June 1 for the opening statement and recording of the first witness’s testimony.
The order came from a two-member judicial panel led by Justice Shafiul Alam Mahmud, a member of International Crimes Tribunal-1. The other panel member is Judge Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.
Three of the defendants are in custody: Akikul Islam, then sub-inspector at Chouggachha police station; constable Sajjadur Rahman; and constable Joharul Haque. The other absconding defendants, besides Anisur, are: Moshiur Rahman, then officer-in-charge at Chouggachha police station; sub-inspector Mokhles; sub-inspector Jamal; and sub-inspector Majedul. The three arrested defendants were produced before the tribunal in the morning.
The tribunal began the proceedings by reading out the prosecution’s charges against the defendants. It then said the defendants’ applications for discharge were rejected.
On April 16, defense lawyers had argued for their clients’ discharge. The defense was first represented by Liton Ahmed, lawyer for constables Sajjadur Rahman and Joharul Haque.
He argued that crimes against humanity require widespread, systematic and targeted attacks, none of which apply here. This is a single isolated incident, he said, and a separate law applies. The case cannot proceed here, he said. The lawyer for sub-inspector Akikul Islam sought discharge on the same grounds.
Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam then made counter-arguments. He said reports from Odhikar covering events that occurred consistently between 2009 and 2015 had been submitted. People were targeted, abducted, tortured and killed during that period, with countless such incidents nationwide, he said. The incident in Chouggachha, Jashore, was part of a systematic, widespread attack, he said. He asked the tribunal to formally frame charges and start the trial. The tribunal set Monday for the order.
According to the case details, on Aug. 3, 2016, police arrested two student leaders, Ruhul Amin and Israfil, in Chouggachha, Jashore, on false charges. They were tortured for two consecutive nights without being produced in court.
Then-Jashore SP Anisur Rahman had subordinate officers shoot the two in the legs. Sand was then forced into the wounds, which were tied with cloth, and they were charged in fabricated cases. Sand-induced infection set in, and the victims later had to have their legs amputated.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report