Police officer Sheikh Afzalul Haque has applied to serve as a key witness in the high-profile Ashulia body-burning case, in which six bodies were burned in Savar. He submitted his petition to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Thursday.
Sheikh Afzalul Haque, a former sub-inspector of Ashulia Police Station, is also an accused in the case.
Meanwhile, the International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2) has ordered the commencement of trial in the case concerning the killing of seven people, including the burning of six bodies, in Ashulia during the July uprising. The order marks the official start of proceedings against 16 accused in the case of crimes against humanity.
The tribunal’s bench, headed by Chairman Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, framed charges against the accused and formally commenced the trial on Thursday. Among the accused is former MP Saiful Islam.
The tribunal had earlier fixed 13 August for hearing, during which the accused were presented before the court. Prosecutors Mizanul Islam and Gazi M H Tamim conducted hearings on 7 August, after which the tribunal scheduled the charge-framing for 21 August.
Eight of the accused were present in court, while the remaining eight, including former MP Saiful Islam, are fugitives. The tribunal appointed two government lawyers for the absent accused to ensure representation. A prior order, issued on 16 July, directed the publication of notices to summon the eight fugitives accused.
The formal indictment, submitted to the tribunal on 2 July, included 313 pages of documentary evidence, 62 witnesses, 168 pages of legal documents, and two pen drives. The tribunal accepted the charges and simultaneously issued arrest warrants for the eight fugitives accused.
The brutal incident occurred on 5 August last year in Ashulia, Savar, when six young men were shot dead by police and their bodies were burned in a police van. One of the victims was still alive at the time but was also killed by setting him on fire using petrol. The case was filed at the International Crimes Tribunal on 11 September last year, charging the accused with crimes against humanity.