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sub-inspector of Rampura Police Outpost Chanchal Chandra Sarkar received 20 years in prison.

Only Chanchal, who is in custody, was present in the dock. Habibur and the three others remain absconding.

Habibur, Rashedul and Mashiur were convicted on all three charges, while Tarikul and Chanchal were found guilty only on the second charge, relating to the shooting of 18-year-old Amir Hossain.

Footage of Amir hanging from the cornice of an under-construction building while two policemen appeared to fire at him from close range went viral on social media after he was critically injured.

In another incident, Md Nadim Hossain was shot dead around noon during police action.

The third involved seven-year-old Basit Khan Musa, who was shot later that afternoon. The bullet passed through the child’s head before striking and killing his grandmother, Maya Islam. Musa survived after treatment, but Maya succumbed to her injuries.

The tribunal found the accused guilty of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy, complicity, facilitation, abetment, incitement, failure to prevent or punish crimes, and command responsibility under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973.

“We considered all the facts, circumstances and evidence to determine whether the victims were killed or grievously injured by police gunfire during the July movement, particularly on July 19, 2024. We have also determined the liabilities of the accused,” Tribunal Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder said while delivering the verdict.

He said former DMP commissioner Habibur had ordered subordinate police personnel over wireless to “use maximum force”.

Habibur had earlier been sentenced to death in another crimes against humanity case over the killing of six people in Chankharpul on August 5, 2024.

The tribunal found that former additional deputy commissioner Rashedul was present at the scene, monitoring, directing and supervising the killings, while officer-in-charge Mashiur led and actively participated in the atrocities.

It also found that Tarikul and Chanchal opened fire on Amir while he clung to the building’s ledge.

“After considering all the facts, circumstances and the evidence before the tribunal, we have found all of them guilty,” the tribunal chairman said.

This is the fifth verdict delivered by the ICT and the third by ICT-1 over atrocities committed during the July 2024 uprising, which, according to the UN Human Rights Office, left up to 1,400 people dead and thousands injured, and culminated in the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5 that year.

Talking to The Daily Star, Musa’s father, Md Mostafizur Rahman, said, “I am satisfied with the verdict. We got the justice we expected for the killing of my mother and the grievous injuries suffered by my son.”

Chanchal’s lawyer, Sarwar Jahan Nippon, said they would appeal to the Appellate Division.

His brother, Utpal Chandra Sarkar, claimed Chanchal was not at the scene.

“He was on duty at the BTV building in Rampura. No firearms or ammunition were issued to my brother that day. Those who were issued firearms were not made accused in the case. We have been victimised because we are members of a minority community,” he said.

Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam said the prosecution was “apparently satisfied” with the verdict and that the victims’ families had received justice. He added that Interpol’s assistance would be sought to arrest the four absconding convicts.

The tribunal’s investigation agency submitted its report to the prosecution on July 31 last year. Formal charges were filed on August 7 and framed on September 18.

The trial began on October 23, with 14 prosecution witnesses testifying. Chanchal was the sole defence witness. Closing arguments concluded on February 3.

Although the tribunal had initially fixed March 4 for delivering the verdict, it deferred the announcement after the prosecution submitted a petition along with a video recording in which Chanchal allegedly admitted his involvement.