Sheikh Jamal Hasan had been patiently awaiting justice for his son, Sheikh Mahdi Hasan Junaid, for eighteen months. However, when the verdict was finally delivered by the International Crimes Tribunal-1 regarding the tragic killing of Junaid and five others during the July 2024 uprising at Chankharpul, it did not bring closure as expected. Instead, it left the families with a deep sense of dissatisfaction and sorrow.
Expressing his emotions outside the courtroom, Jamal struggled to contain his tears and frustration. He questioned the verdict, stating that his son had brought hope to Bangladesh and now felt as though he was being treated as a criminal.
The incident occurred on August 5, 2024, when Junaid and five others were fatally shot by the police in Dhaka’s Chankharpul area during the “March to Dhaka” program. The tribunal sentenced three senior police officers, Habibur Rahman, Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, and Shah Alam Mohammad Akhtarul Islam, to death for their involvement. Additionally, five other policemen received various lighter sentences.
Among the attendees during the verdict announcement was the family of Shahriar Khan Anas, one of the victims who had penned a poignant letter to his mother before the tragedy. The lack of severe punishment left his mother, Sanjida Khan, in tears, expressing her disappointment in the justice system.
Outside the courtroom, the families of the convicted policemen also displayed anguish and sorrow. The mothers of the victims mourned the loss of their loved ones and expressed concerns about the lenient sentences given to the perpetrators.
Chief prosecutor Tajul Islam criticized the verdict, stating that the sentences did not align with the gravity of the crimes committed. He emphasized the need for harsher penalties, given the sacrifices made by the young individuals during the uprising.
Islam vowed to appeal the verdict and push for the death penalty, emphasizing that in cases of crimes against humanity, accountability should not be evaded based on technicalities.