The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has ordered the trial of 16 accused in connection with the killing of six people and burning of their bodies during the July 2024 uprising in Ashulia.
On Thursday, the tribunal, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, rejected the discharge petitions of the accused and framed charges against them. The two other members of the three-judge panel are Justice Md Manjurul Basid and Justice Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.
Of the 16 accused, eight are in custody and were produced before the court. They include former Dhaka District Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Operations) Abdullahil Kafi, former Additional SP (Savar Circle) Shahidul Islam, Inspector Arafat Hossain, Sub-Inspectors Malek and Arafat Uddin, Assistant Sub-Inspector Kamrul Hasan, Abzal Hossain, and Constable Mukul.
On the same day, former SI Sheikh Afzalul Haque pleaded guilty and applied to become a state witness.
The other eight accused, including former MP Muhammad Saiful Islam and former police SI Bishwajit Saha, remain absconding. The tribunal has appointed two state defence lawyers to represent them.
On July 2, the prosecution formally submitted charges against the 16 accused, along with 313 pages of documents, testimony from 62 witnesses, 168 pages of documentary evidence, and two pen drives. Arrest warrants were also issued for the absconding accused. Hearings on charge framing began on August 7.
According to the case documents, on August 5, 2024, police opened fire in Ashulia, killing five people and critically injuring another. Later, the victims’ bodies and the injured man were reportedly placed inside a police van, doused with petrol, and set ablaze.
The deceased were identified as Sajjad Hossain (Sajal), As Sabur, Tanzil Mahmud Sujoy, Bayezid Bustomi, and Abul Hossain. One victim remained unidentified.
On September 11 last year, a case was filed with the International Crimes Tribunal accusing 11 people of crimes against humanity.
