'I saw several bodies burning in a police pickup truck': Witness testifies in ICT

While testifying before the International Crimes Tribunal-2 today (5 November), eyewitness Shahriar Hossain Sajib described the scene in Ashulia where, shortly after former prime minister Sheikh Hasina left the country amid a mass uprising last year, the bodies of six protesters were burned in a police pickup truck.

Sajib testified before the tribunal as the 22nd prosecution witness in a crimes against humanity case against former MP Saiful Islam and 15 others, accused of killing seven people – including six whose bodies were burned.

The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, recorded Sajib's deposition.

In his statement, Sajib said, "On the morning of 5 August 2024, I joined the anti-discrimination movement at Baipail intersection. Around 2:30pm, we heard that Sheikh Hasina had fled the country. We then brought out a victory procession. During that time, we heard gunfire coming from the direction of the Ashulia Police Station. Eventually, we marched toward the station, where several police officers were positioned in front."

He continued, "My friend Sajjad Hossain Sajal reached the front of the station before me. I saw Awami League leader Roni Bhuiyan holding him. Roni was known to be close to then-MP Saiful Islam. I asked Roni to let Sajal go, but he grabbed me instead. Just behind me, a policeman was loading his rifle. 

"I told Sajal to move away. Moments later, we heard a gunshot. I started running toward the SA Paribahan office road but stumbled and fell after a short distance. That's when I saw my leg had been hit by pellets."

Sajib added that another man was shot right in front of him. He took the injured man inside a nearby house. After 10–15 minutes, when his condition worsened, Sajib tried to go out, but the gunfire forced him back in. "I tried three or four times to leave. The shooting went on for about an hour, and during that time the injured man died. I finally managed to get out around 6pm."

He said, "After coming out, I saw several bodies burning in a police pickup in front of the station. 

I went straight home. The next day, I heard that my friend Sajal's body had been found near the police station."

"Days later, I saw a video on Facebook showing bodies being loaded onto a truck," Sajib continued. "Another video showed the same truck – where I had seen the burned bodies – being set on fire. I hold Roni Bhuiyan, then-MP Saiful Islam, and the police officers who were at the scene, who fired the shots and set the truck ablaze, responsible for the killings."

Following his testimony, Sajib was cross-examined by state-appointed lawyers representing the absconding accused as well as defence lawyers for those in custody. The tribunal set November 12 for the next hearing in the case.