In the widely reported case of the burning of six bodies in Ashulia following the killing of six people during a student and public movement, the full verdict has been published. The 591-page judgment details the incident, the planning, and the accused’s role. The ruling was delivered on Sunday (15 March) by the International Crimes Tribunal–2, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury and a three-member bench.
The death sentences were handed down to:
- Former MP Muhammad Saiful Islam
- Former OC of Ashulia Police Station, A F M Syed
- Former SI Abdul Malek
- Former ASI Bishwajit Saha
- Former Constable Mukul Chokdar
- Jubo League activist Roni Bhuiya
Seven other accused were sentenced to life imprisonment:
- Former Deputy Inspector, Dhaka Range, Syed Nurul Islam
- Former Superintendent of Police, Dhaka District, Md. Asaduzzaman Ripon
- Additional SP Abdullahil Kafi
- Former Additional SP, Savar Circle, Md. Shahidul Islam
- Former Inspector Md. Masudur Rahman
- Former Inspector Nirmal Kumar Das
- Former Inspector, Dhaka Detective Branch, Md. Arafat Hossain
Two former sub-inspectors of Ashulia Police Station, Arafat Uddin and Kamrul Hasan, received 7-year rigorous imprisonment, while former SI Sheikh Abzalul Haque was pardoned for giving testimony as an approver/witness in the case.
The tribunal noted in the verdict:
“The prosecution could not present sufficient evidence of direct involvement in the body burning against some of the police personnel. Although the allegations were serious, in some cases the level of involvement could not be fully proven, so their sentences have been reduced. Their role was mainly limited to assisting in operations conducted under instructions from higher authorities.”
The short verdict in this case had been announced on 5 February. There are 16 accused in total, of whom eight are in custody and the remaining eight are absconding.
The accused currently in prison include:
- Abdullahil Kafi (life imprisonment)
- Shahidul Islam (life imprisonment)
- Arafat Hossain (life imprisonment)
- Abdul Malek (death sentence)
- Arafat Uddin (7 years)
- Kamrul Hasan (7 years)
- Sheikh Abzalul Haque (pardoned)
- Mukul Chokdar (death sentence)
The absconding accused include:
- Saiful Islam (death sentence)
- Syed Nurul Islam (life imprisonment)
- Asaduzzaman Ripon (life imprisonment)
- A F M Syed (death sentence)
- Masudur Rahman (life imprisonment)
- Nirmal Kumar Das (life imprisonment)
- Bishwajit Saha (death sentence)
- Roni Bhuiya (death sentence)
Case Background: On 5 August 2024, during a student-public movement in Ashulia, six individuals were shot dead. Their bodies were then placed in a van and set on fire. The victims included Sajjad Hossain, As-Sabur, Tanzil Mahmud, Bayezid Bostami, and Abul Hossain. One of the victims was seriously injured and was also burned alive.
This case marks the first verdict from the International Crimes Tribunal–2 concerning crimes against humanity during the July mass uprising. Previously, the International Crimes Tribunal–1 had delivered verdicts in similar cases.
Notably, in other cases, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan were sentenced to death, while former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who confessed and testified as an approver, received five years’ imprisonment. On 26 January, three accused, including former Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Habibur Rahman, were sentenced to death in a separate crimes against humanity case, with five others receiving various prison terms.
