Staff Reporter:
The trial in crimes against humanity case over the killing of 28 people in the capital’s Rampura area during the July Mass Uprising began yesterday at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1, with the chief prosecutor placing the opening statement.
Comparing the Rampura mass killing of July 18-19, 2024, to the brutality unleashed by the Paki-stani occupation forces on the black night of March 25, 1971, Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam said the incident constituted one of the most heinous crimes against humanity.
“The way BGB carried out the killings in Rampura was similar to what took place on March 25, 1971. The incident must be tried, and the culprits must be brought to justice,” Tajul said.
The chief prosecutor said the trial aims to send a clear message that Bangladesh will, step by step, ensure the trial of crimes against humanity committed anywhere in the country, underscoring that Bangladesh does not believe in a culture of impunity and grants no leniency to perpetrators.
Following the opening statement, the son of a July Mass Uprising martyr testified as the first pros-ecution witness (PW) before ICT-1.
Bishwajit Rajbangshi, son of Gongacharan Rajbangshi, who was killed by BGB personnel on July 18, 2024, in front of the WASA Gate near Rampura Bridge, submitted his deposition, demanding justice for his father’s killing.
After the completion of his deposition, the tribunal adjourned the hearing until January 25, when the defence is scheduled to cross-examine the witness.
Earlier, on December 24, the tribunal indicted four accused in the case.
The accused are former BGB officials Mohammad Redwanul Islam and Md Rafat Bin Alam, for-mer Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Md Rashedul Islam, and former Officer-in-Charge of Rampura Police Station Md Moshiur Rahman. Of them, the two former BGB officials are currently in custody and were produced before the tribunal during the hearing.
According to the prosecution, at least 28 people were killed and many others injured in the Ram-pura area of the capital during the July Mass Uprising. It was alleged that former BGB official Mo-hammad Redwanul Islam was seen firing live rounds from his automatic rifle during the incident.
