The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Sunday began the trial of former independent lawmaker from Dhaka-12, Muhammad Saiful Islam, along with 15 police personnel, over the killings of nine protesters during the July 2024 mass uprising in Ashulia, on the outskirts of Dhaka.
The three-member tribunal, headed by retired High Court judge Nozrul Islam Chowdhury, opened proceedings after chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam delivered his opening statement, outlining the charges, evidence, and the significance of the trial.
The tribunal set Monday for recording depositions of prosecution witnesses.
Earlier, on August 21, the tribunal framed charges against all 16 accused.
Eight arrested accused were present in tribunal.
Among the accused, former Ashulia police sub-inspector Sheikh Afzalul Haque earlier admitted to killing nine protesters and burning six bodies on August 5, 2024.
He has since become a state witness, expressing his willingness to disclose the full details of the crime.
Afzal is the second police officer to confess involvement in the July 2024 killings.
The seven other detained accused are dismissed additional SP Abdullah Al Kafi, former additional SP Md Shahidul Islam, DB inspector Md Arafat Hossain Arju, sub-inspectors Arafat Uddin and Abdul Malek, ASI Kamrul Hasan and former constable Mukul Chowkder.
The remaining seven accused, including former MP Saiful Islam, former DIG Nurul Islam, former SP Asaduzzaman Ripon, former additional SP Saidul Islam, former Ashulia OC AFM Sayeed Roni, formal inspector (investigation) Mohammad Masudur Rahman, inspector(operation) Nirmal Kumar Das, assistant sub-inspector Biswajit Saha and one Rani Bhuiyan yet to be apprehended.
The chief prosecutor鈥檚 office received multiple complaints after the incident. The ICT investigation agency opened its probe on October 6, 2024. Formal charges were submitted by chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam on July 3, 2025.