ICT-2 sets 7 Aug for indictment hearing in Ashulia body burning case

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 today (28 July) set August 7 for holding a hearing on charge framing in a crime against humanity case filed over the killing and burning bodies of six youths in Ashulia during July-August mass uprising.

The three-judge panel of the ICT-2 led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, passed the order after holding a hearing on the matter. Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim took part in the hearing today.

The ICT-2 on July 16 ordered authorities concerned to publish a notice in two national dailies, asking eight fugitives accused in the case to surrender. As per the rule, if the fugitives failed to surrender before the court, the trial will be initiated in their absence.

The second tribunal on July 2 took into cognisance the formal charge in the crimes against humanity case filed over the firing on six youths in Ashulia, killing five of them, burning their bodies along with another youth alive during the July-August mass uprising to conceal the evidence.

It also had issued arrest warrant against eight accused including former lawmaker Muhammad Saiful Islam and former deputy inspector general of police Nurul Islam on that day. The prosecution filed the formal charge against 16 people at the office of the ICT Registrar. The matter was later mentioned at the second tribunal.

The other accused in the case include - former additional superintendent of police (crimes and ops) Md Abdullahil Kafi, former additional superintendent of police (Savar circle) Md Shahidul Islam, former officer in-charge AFM Sayed, former detective branch (DB) inspector Md Arafat Hossain, former assistant sub-inspectors (SIs) Abdul Malek, Arafat Uddin, Sheikh Abzalul Haque, Bishwajit Saha, Kamrul Hasan, and former constable Mukul Chokder.

The investigation agency of the ICT on June 19 filed the probe report in the case.

According to the prosecution, police members in Ashulia on August 5, 2024, allegedly shot and killed five youths, injuring another one and put their bodies into a police van. The van was then set ablaze in an attempt to make it appear as though the protesters had torched the vehicle, resulting in the deaths.

"Tragically, one of the victims was still alive when the fire was set. Police poured petrol on the van and burned him alive," Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam told journalists earlier.