Ex-OC ordered killings, set bodies on fire in Ashulia

Former OC of Ashulia Police Station AFM Sayed and assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Biswajit Saha poured petrol on the bodies of six protesters and set them on fire on August 5 last year, an approver testified before the International Crimes Tribunal-2 yesterday.

Former sub-inspector (SI) of Ashulia Police Station Sheikh Abzalul Haque also said that police, earlier that day, opened fire on a victory procession -- minutes after former prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country -- on the direct orders of the OC, leaving several demonstrators collapsing to the ground.

"Some people died instantly," said the accused-turned-approver in a crimes against humanity case filed over the killing of seven youths and the subsequent burning of six of their bodies in Ashulia.

He appeared as the 23rd prosecution witness in the case.

The former SI, however, added that he was not present at the scene during the burning. He learned about it only after returning to the police station on August 15, 2024, to deposit the firearm issued in his name.

Abzalul is the second accused to turn approver, after former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who was convicted by ICT-1 on Monday and sentenced to five years' imprisonment in a separate crimes against humanity case linked to the July uprising.

Describing the events of the day, Abzalul said a group of protesters approached Ashulia Police Station in a victory procession shortly after Hasina's departure.

"When the protesters reached near the station, OC Sir ordered the force to fire directly," he testified. "ASI Bishwajit and several others opened fire on his command," he added.

A group of protesters approached Ashulia Police Station in a victory procession shortly after Hasina's departure. When the protesters reached near the station, OC Sir ordered the force to fire directly. ASI Bishwajit and several others opened fire on his command.

Sheikh Abzalul Haque Former SI

He said police personnel then loaded the bodies of the fallen protesters onto a police van. While doing so, he noticed that the OC was speaking in hushed tones with Bishwajit and Abdul Malek, a constable.

"They stopped talking when I approached. I suspected they were planning something regarding the bodies," Abzalul said. He later came to know that the OC and ASI Bishwajit burned the bodies using petrol.

The witness further stated that he saw no punitive action taken by senior police officials, then Dhaka Range DIG Syed Nurul Islam, then Dhaka SP Asaduzzaman Ripon, former SP Abdullahel Kafi, and Savar Circle Additional SP Shahidul Islam, against those involved.

According to him, during the July uprising, then lawmaker Saiful Islam repeatedly phoned OC Sayed, instructing him to suppress protests and arrest opposition activists.

"The OC relayed those orders to us, and we carried them out," he said.

Abzalul, arrested in the case in May 2025, told the tribunal he chose to turn approver out of "moral responsibility" and to repay his debts to the martyrs. He also vowed to make a "full and truthful disclosure."

On August 21 this year, the tribunal framed charges against 16 accused in the case. Of them, eight are in custody. Seven pleaded not guilty and demanded justice.

Following his deposition, the defence began cross-examining him, which is set to continue today.