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Published : 02 Jul 2025, 03:11 PM
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has accepted formal charges of crimes against humanity over the killing of six people and the burning of their bodies in Ashulia during last year’s July-August mass uprising.
The case accuses former MP Saiful Islam and 15 others. Following the decision, the tribunal issued arrest warrants for the absconding MP and seven others.
A three-member panel of the tribunal led by Justice Md Nazrul Islam Chowdhury made the decision on Wednesday.
Earlier, the prosecution submitted a 173-page formal complaint in the case to the tribunal. The investigation report into the much-discussed incident was handed over to the prosecution on Jun 19.
On that day, Prosecutor Mizanul Islam told reporters that 16 people, including former MP Saiful Islam, were named as accused in the formal complaint.
Seven of the accused, including detained police officers Abdullah Hill Kafi and Shahidul Islam, were brought to the tribunal in a prison van in the morning.
The complaint alleges that on Aug 5, 2024, police opened fire in Savar's Ashulia area, killing five people and critically injuring another. The bodies of the dead and the injured person were then placed in a police van, doused in petrol, and set ablaze.
The victims were identified as Sajjad Hossain (Sajal), As Sabur, Tanzil Mahmud Sujoy, Bayezid Bustami, and Abul Hossain. One victim remains unidentified.
A case was initially filed with the ICT on Sept 11, 2024, alleging crimes against humanity. The original complaint listed 11 accused.
They included former MP Saiful, former additional superintendent of police (Savar Circle) Md Shahidul Islam, former additional superintendent of police (Dhaka) Abdullah Hill Kafi, former chief of Ashulia Police Station AFM Sayed, former inspector of Dhaka District Detective Branch (North) Md Arafat Hossain, former sub-inspectors Abdul Malek, Arafat Uddin, Sheikh Abjalul Haque, Bishwajit Saha, and Kamrul Hasan, and former constable Mukul Chokder.
Eight of the accused have been arrested so far. Seven of them were produced before the tribunal on Wednesday.
According to the investigation report, the fatal shooting took place around 3pm on Aug 5, 2024, near the Ashulia Police Station.
After the shooting, the five bodies and the injured person were first placed in a police van and later moved to a car. Inside the vehicle, all six -- one of whom was still alive -- were doused in petrol and set on fire.
