Seven accused in the Ashulia mass killing and body-burning case were produced before the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka on Wednesday morning, as prosecutors moved to press formal charges of “crimes against humanity”.
Among those brought to court under tight security were two former senior police officers—Abdullah Hil Kafi, former Additional Superintendent of Police (Dhaka district), and Md Shahidul Islam, former ASP of Savar Circle. The accused arrived at the tribunal in a prison van shortly before proceedings began.
The charges stem from a brutal incident that occurred on 5 August 2024, during the student-led popular uprising that swept across the country. According to the prosecution, six men were killed near the Ashulia Police Station—five of them shot dead by police, and a sixth critically injured. All six were then placed inside a van, drenched in petrol, and set on fire, allegedly to eliminate evidence and suppress further unrest.
Investigators described the act as a deliberate and coordinated crime involving law enforcement and political figures. The final investigation report was submitted to the prosecution on 19 June and confirmed this week. A formal case was filed with the International Crimes Tribunal on 11 September 2024, citing murder, torture, and destruction of evidence—charges that fall under the category of crimes against humanity under international law.
The formal charge sheet names 16 individuals, including former lawmaker Mohammad Saiful Islam. Of those, 11 are under active prosecution. Eight are currently in custody, and seven were physically presented in court on Wednesday.
The victims have been identified as Sajjad Hossain (Sajal), As Sabur, Tanzil Mahmud Sujoy, Bayezid Bostami, and Abul Hossain. One of the six remains unidentified.
The tribunal is expected to take cognisance of the charges in the coming days, as it continues to hear multiple cases related to the violent crackdown during last year’s uprising.