The International Crimes Tribunal-2 is scheduled to announce its inaugural verdict on February 5 in a case involving crimes against humanity related to the deaths of seven individuals, including the burning of six bodies, during the Ashulia uprising in July 2024.
Justice Md Nozrul Islam Chowdhury, heading a three-member tribunal, disclosed the verdict date recently. The tribunal deemed the case ready for a verdict on January 20 following the completion of arguments from both the prosecution and defense.
Among the 16 individuals accused in the case, eight are presently detained, while the other eight are at large. The accused comprise former Savar Awami League lawmaker Muhammad Saiful Islam, ex-Dhaka Range DIG Syed Nurul Islam, and former Dhaka SP Md Asaduzzaman Ripon.
In another development, ICT-1 acknowledged two formal charges in separate cases of crimes against humanity. One case involves charges against eight individuals, including former Jessore superintendent of police Md Anisur Rahman, regarding a 2016 incident in Jashore’s Chowgachha upazila. The incident allegedly involved the severe injury and subsequent leg amputation of two victims, Israfil Hossain and Ruhul Amin, due to a staged “crossfire.”
While three of the accused are incarcerated, the remaining five are fugitives. The tribunal issued arrest warrants for the absconding individuals and directed the authorities to present the three detained accused before the court on February 16.
According to the prosecution, sub-inspector SM Akikul Islam and constables Sazzadur Rahman and Kazi Jahurul Haque from Chowgachha Police Station shot the victims on orders from their superiors. Other accused individuals include former OC Mashiur Rahman, SI Mokhlesuzzaman, SI Jamal Hossain, and SI Majedul Islam.
Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam, speaking at the ICT premises, revealed that police personnel, under the directives of then-SP Anisur, shot the victims and inflicted severe infections by pouring sand into their wounds, resulting in leg amputations. Tajul alleged that similar incidents occurred during Anisur Rahman’s tenure.
Furthermore, formal charges were pressed against nine individuals, including former Gouripur upazila chairman Somnath Saha, in a separate crimes against humanity case related to the deaths of three individuals during the Ashulia uprising in July 2024. Tajul mentioned that one victim was shot in the abdomen and then fatally shot in the head and chest by a sub-inspector.
Currently, three accused individuals are in custody in this case, with the remaining six being fugitives.
