ICT sets August 21 for framing charges in Ashulia body burning case

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has scheduled August 21 to frame charges against 16 accused in connection with the burning of six dead bodies and the killing of one person during the student-public movement in Ashulia, Savar last year.

The decision was made after a hearing on Wednesday before a three-member judicial panel of Tribunal-2, led by Chairman Justice Md. Nazrul Islam Chowdhury. The other members are Justice Md. Manjurul Bashid and Justice Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.

Prosecutors Mizanul Islam and Gazi MH Tamim represented the state, supported by Prosecutors Faruk Ahmad, Saimum Reza Talukdar, and Abdus Sattar Palwan. The prosecution’s hearing on framing charges concluded earlier, and today the tribunal heard arguments from the defense.

Eight of the 16 accused appeared before the tribunal this morning in prison vans. Among them were former Dhaka District Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and OPS) Md. Abdullahil Kafi, former Additional Superintendent of Police (Savar Circle) Md. Shahidul Islam, Inspector Arafat Hossain, Sub-Inspectors Malek and Arafat Uddin, Assistant Sub-Inspector Kamrul Hasan, Abzal Hossain, and Constable Mukul.

The tribunal had earlier fixed today’s date for the hearing on July 28, following its formal acceptance of charges against the accused on July 2.

According to prosecutors, on August 5 last year, six young men were shot dead in Ashulia, and police officers then set their bodies on fire inside a police van. During the incident, one victim was reportedly doused with petrol and set on fire while still alive. A separate case involves the killing of another individual on August 4.

Separate legal actions have been initiated over the killing of seven people and the burning of six bodies.