Asif Mahmud calls for exemplary punishment for those accused of crimes against humanity

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD) Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain on Thursday urged the court to hand down exemplary punishment to those responsible for committing crimes against humanity during the July–August 2024 mass uprising.

He made the appeal while testifying as Prosecution Witness (PW)-19 in a case filed over the killing of six unarmed civilians in the capital’s Chankharpul area on August 5, 2024.

Asif Mahmud appeared for the second consecutive day before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1, where he was later cross-examined by defence lawyers.

At the end of the proceedings, Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, chairman of the three-member tribunal, adjourned the hearing until October 26.

Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam, along with prosecutors Mizanul Islam, Gazi MH Tamim, and others, were present during the session.

Asif Mahmud had first testified on October 9, recounting how he witnessed two people being shot dead in front of him during police firing at Chankharpul.

In his statement, he accused former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, and several Awami League leaders and police officials of ordering or facilitating the violence.

He also described how intelligence personnel from multiple agencies pressured movement leaders to withdraw their protests, and how he and others were detained at the Detective Branch (DB) office, where they were told that their arrest came under the orders of the prime minister and home minister, and that noncompliance could cost them their lives.

“However, the DB spared our lives,” he testified.

On July 14, the ICT-1 framed charges against eight accused, including former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman.

Of the eight, four are in custody and facing trial in person — former Shahbagh Police Station OC Md Arshad Hossain, and constables Md Sujon Miah, Md Imaj Hossain Emon, and Md Nasirul Islam.

The four fugitives are former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, Joint Commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakrabarti, Additional Deputy Commissioner Shah Alam Md Akhterul Islam, and Assistant Commissioner Mohammad Imrul.

The prosecution, led by Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam, argued for framing the charges on July 3, while defence counsels sought their clients’ discharge.

The defence team included Advocate Saddam Hossain Ovy (for Inspector Arshad), Barrister Sifat Mahmud (for Constable Sujon), Advocate Shibli Sadekin (for Constable Imaj), Advocate Abul Hasan (for Constable Nasirul), and state-appointed counsel Advocate Md Kutubuddin (for the fugitives).

The formal charge, filed on May 25, was the first of its kind submitted to the ICT in connection with cases related to the July–August 2024 Mass Uprising.

The six victims — Shahriar Khan Anas, Sheikh Mahdi Hasan Zunayed, Md Yakub, Md Rakib Hawlader, Md Ismamul Haque, and Manik Miah — were killed in the incident.

The tribunal’s investigation agency had earlier submitted a 90-page probe report on April 20.