The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has set 18 October for the hearing on framing charges against 19 people, including former Dhaka-19 lawmaker Saiful Islam, in a case over the killing of Ashabul Yamin during the July uprising in Savar.
The tribunal passed the order on Wednesday after the prosecution sought one month to prepare for the charge-framing hearing.
Prosecutor Zahirul Amin appeared for the prosecution and sought the additional time.
The tribunal granted the prayer and fixed 18 October for the hearing.
Thirteen of the 19 accused are absconding. They include former Dhaka Range DIG Syed Nurul Islam, former police superintendent Asaduzzaman Ripon, former Savar Police Station officer-in-charge Shahjahan, and former Ashulia Police Station OC AFM Sayed.
The other absconding accused are former Savar upazila parishad chairman Manzurul Alam Rajib, upazila Chhatra League president Mohammad Atikur Rahman, Dhaka district Awami League joint general secretary Fakhrul Alam Samar, Mehedi Hasan Tushar, son of former Savar municipality mayor Abdul Gani, Raju Ahmed, former upazila chairman Rajib’s personal assistant, and Mohammad Farid, Zaman Khan and Sharif Ashraful Alam Babul.
On September 13, the tribunal directed that state-funded lawyers be appointed to represent the 13 absconding accused.
The remaining six accused are in jail after being arrested. They are former Dhaka district additional superintendent of police (Crime and Operations) Mohammad Abdullahil Kafi, former additional superintendent of police (Savar Circle) Mohammad Shahidul Islam, ASI Mohammad Ali, constable Nayek Suhel Mia, constable Mahfuz Mia and Dhaka district Jubo League president Mizanur Rahman, also known as GS Mizan.
The tribunal took cognisance of the formal charges against the 19 accused on 26 July. It also issued arrest warrants against the absconding accused on the same day.
Yamin was a fourth-year student of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the Military Institute of Science and Technology.
According to the prosecution, police and Awami League activists attacked participants of the anti-discrimination student movement at Savar bus stand on 18 July 2024.
The prosecution alleges that around 1:30pm, Yamin was caught and dragged towards a police armoured vehicle, where he was shot in the left side of his chest. The bullet reportedly caused multiple shrapnel wounds around his chest.
He was then allegedly dragged and placed on top of the armoured vehicle.
Prosecutors allege that police personnel drove the armoured vehicle back and forth with Yamin on it in an attempt to intimidate protesters and members of the public.
At one point, they allegedly dropped Yamin, who was in critical condition, onto the road.
The prosecution further alleges that a police officer was ordered to get out of the armoured vehicle and shoot Yamin in the leg. The officer, however, allegedly believed Yamin was already dead and did not fire, instead dragging him across the road and leaving him beside a road divider.
According to the prosecution, Yamin could still be seen breathing at the time.
Local residents later rescued him and took him to Enam Medical College Hospital in Savar, where doctors declared him dead.
The prosecution has described the incident as a crime against humanity. The allegations will be examined through the judicial proceedings before the tribunal.
