The prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunals on Wednesday filed formal charges in a case of crimes against humanity for the killing of six youths and burning the bodies at Ashulia, on the outskirts of the capital, during the 2024 mass uprising.
The three-member Tribunal-2, led by Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury, took cognisance of the charges read out by prosecutor Gazi Monowar Hossain Tamim.
The tribunal ordered the jail authorities to produce eight detained accused before it on July 13.
It also issued warrants for the arrest of eight others, including former lawmaker Muhammad Saiful Islam for Dhaka-19 and former deputy inspector general of police Nurul Islam.
This is the second case accepted by Tribunal-2.
The accused include former lawmaker Saiful Islam, dismissed additional superintendent of police Abdullah Al Kafi, former Savar circle additional SP Md Shahidul Islam, former Ashulia police inspector AFM Sayeed Roni, detective Branch North inspector Md Arafat Hossain Arju, former Ashulia ASIs Abdul Malek, Arafat Uddin, Sheikh Afzalul Haque, Biswajit Saha, Kamrul Hasan and former constable Mukul Chandra.
According to the complaints, on August 5, 2024, police opened fire on a crowd at Ashulia, killing five people and critically injuring another. The bodies were allegedly loaded into a police van, drenched in petrol, and set ablaze.
Eight of the 11 law enforcement officials are currently in custody.
Saimum said the names of other accused were withheld, as they remain absconding and could go deeper into hiding if publicly identified.
The Ashulia incident was investigated based on multiple complaints received by the chief prosecutor鈥檚 office.
Investigators began their probe on October 6, 2024.
The identified victims include Sajjad Hossain (Sajal), As Sabur, Tanzil Mahmud Sujoy, Bayezid Bustami, and Abul Hossain. One victim remains unidentified.