The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has framed formal charges against 16 individuals in connection with the killing of one person on 4 August 2024 and the burning of six bodies on 5 August 2024 during the student-led mass uprising in Ashulia, Savar, and has ordered the start of the trial.
After hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defense, the three-member bench of ICT-2, led by Chairman Justice Md Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, framed the charges against the accused on Thursday (21 August). The other members of the bench are Justice Md Manjurul Bachid and Justice Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.
Earlier, hearings on charge framing were held on 7 August for the prosecution and on 13 August for the defense, with Thursday’s order continuing the process.
The prosecution was represented by Prosecutors Mizanul Islam and Gazi MH Tamim, along with Faruq Ahmad, Saimum Reza Talukdar, and Abdus Sattar Palwan.
Among the 16 accused, eight arrested individuals were brought to the tribunal from jail in a prison van. They include former Additional Police Superintendent (Crime & OPS) of Dhaka District Md Abdullahil Kafi, former Additional Superintendent of Police (Savar Circle) Md Shahidul Islam, Inspector Arafat Hossain, SI Malek, SI Arafat Uddin, ASI Kamrul Hasan, Abzal Hossain, and Constable Mukul.
According to the prosecution, on 5 August 2024, six youths were shot dead in Ashulia, Savar. Their bodies were placed in a police van and set on fire, with one individual still alive at the time, but set on fire after petrol was poured over him. Separately, one person was shot dead on 4 August. In total, seven people were killed, and six bodies were burned, leading to separate cases.
The formal charges, submitted on 2 July 2025, were accompanied by 313 pages of documents, 62 witness statements, 168 pages of evidentiary materials, and two pendrives.
The killings occurred during police firing in Ashulia, Savar on 5 August 2024, and the victims’ bodies were burned in a police van, including one who was alive at the time. The case was filed at the ICT on 11 September 2024 under charges of crimes against humanity.