Probe into burning bodies in Ashulia completed: Tajul

International Crimes Tribunal’s (ICT) Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam said they have completed the investigation into burning the bodies of six people after killing in Ashulia of Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka during the July mass uprising 2024.

This is the first case over July massacre which probe has been done, he told the reporters on Sunday afternoon, March 23.

Saying formal charges will be submitted after verification and review, he hoped receiving investigation reports of three to four more cases, including one against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, after upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.

At least 75 individuals were killed in police firing from July 18 to August 5, 2024, during the mass uprising. 

A video that went viral on social media showed police personnel piling bodies onto a rickshaw van. 

The footage, which surfaced on Facebook on August 30, was confirmed to feature brutality near the Ashulia police station.

Initially, the video's context was unclear, but further investigation revealed that the incident occurred on August 5.

The video shows police loading bodies onto a rickshaw van and covering them with old banner and bedsheet, while other officers are seen at the scene.

Habibur Rahman, a witness to the violence on August 5, told Jago News, “There was a clash between protesters and the police. At one point, the police opened fire, resulting in several deaths. I saw the police load six bodies onto a rickshaw van.” 

Habibur said he learned that the bodies were reportedly set on fire by the police.

Local allegations suggest that the police burned the bodies in a police vehicle and then blamed protesters. 

A case was filed with the International Crimes Tribunal on September 11 in this connection.

FH/MSU