Dhaka: The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) today set May 25 as the deadline for submitting the probe report in a case involving genocide and crimes against humanity. The case concerns the killing of six youths during the July-August mass uprising, with their bodies subsequently torched to erase evidence.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the three-member tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, approved the prosecution’s request for more time to complete the investigation. Prosecutor Mizanul Islam, who presented the plea, was accompanied by prosecutors BM Sultan Mahmud and Faruk Ahammed during the hearing.
“We have identified a new video of a torching police van in Ashulia. The matter of how the killings took place there came before us in a new way. So we need a little more time to complete the probe and pleaded for one more month in this connection,” stated Prosecutor Mizanul Islam.
The tribunal had previously, on April 15, ordered the detention of former additional superintendent of police (crimes and ops) Md Abdullahil Kafi, former additional superintendent of police (Savar circle) Md Shahidul Islam, and former detective branch (DB) inspector Md Arafat Hossain in connection with the case.
The prosecution alleges that on August 5, 2024, police members in Ashulia shot and killed six youths, placing their bodies in a police van. The van was then set ablaze to make it appear as though protesters had incinerated the vehicle, causing the deaths. Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam previously revealed to the media that, “Tragically, one of the victims was still alive when the fire was set. Police poured petrol on the van and burned him alive.”