The International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2) on Sunday released the 591-page full verdict regarding the killing of seven individuals and the subsequent burning of their bodies in Ashulia during the July-August mass uprising.
A three-member bench led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, including Judge Md Manjurul Basid and Judge Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir, had previously announced the summary judgement on 5 February.
Sentencing and Penalties The tribunal sentenced six individuals to death: former Member of Parliament (MP) Md Saiful Islam, AFM Sayeed alias Rony, Abdul Malek, Bishwajit Saha, Mukul Chokdar, and Rony Bhuiyan.
In a significant directive, the court ordered the confiscation of Saiful Islam’s entire property by the state to be distributed among the victims’ families.
Life imprisonment was handed down to seven others – Syed Nurul Islam, Md Asaduzzaman Ripon, Md Abdullahil Kafi, Shahidul Islam, Md Masudur Rahman, Nirmal Kumar Das, and Md Arafat Hossain Arju.
Arafat Uddin and Kamrul Hassan were sentenced to seven years of imprisonment each. One defendant, Sheikh Abzalul Huq, was pardoned by the court for his cooperation as a state witness.
Court observations
The verdict noted that although the allegations were grave, the prosecution’s evidence did not establish that the second, third, fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, and ninth defendants were the primary planners or the ultimate political source of the crimes.
Their liability stemmed from assisting in operations under orders from higher authorities.
Additionally, some sentences were reduced as the prosecution could not provide sufficient evidence to prove the direct involvement of certain police members in the actual burning of the bodies.
The Massacre and Investigation According to the prosecution, on 5 August 2024, police shot and killed six people in Ashulia before loading their bodies onto a van and setting them on fire. It was highlighted in court that at least one person was still alive when petrol was poured on them.
Another individual had been killed in the same area the previous day.
The victims were identified as Sajjad Hossain (Sajal), As Sabur, Tanzil Mahmud Sujoy, Bayezid Bustami, and Abul Hossain, while one victim remained unidentified. The case was formally filed with the ICT on 11 September 2024.
Trial proceedings
The trial officially began on 21 August last year with the framing of charges against 16 individuals. During the proceedings, seven of the eight present defendants pleaded not guilty, while SI Sheikh Abzalul Huq pleaded guilty and later testified as a state witness.
The prosecution, led by then then chief prosecutor Tajul Islam and Prosecutor Md Mizanul Islam, submitted a 313-page document, a list of 62 witnesses, and 168 pages of documentary evidence. The defense was represented by Syed Mizanur Rahman and SM Mirajul Alam Ajman.
Among the convicted police officials are former additional SP (Crime & Ops) Md Abdullahil Kafi, former additional SP (Savar Circle) Md. Shahidul Islam, and Inspector Md Arafat Hossain.
While eight defendants were present during the verdict, former MP Saiful Islam and seven others remain fugitives and were tried in absentia.
This marks the third verdict delivered by the ICT regarding crimes against humanity committed during the tenure of the fallen Awami League government. Previous verdicts included death sentences for ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.
