ICT sentences former Bangladesh MP, 5 others to death in Ashulia lynching and burning case

The matter entails the killing of seven protesters in Ashulia, including incidents in which five victims were burned after death and one person was set on fire while still alive, the report stated. As per formal charges, at least 29 people were killed in Ashulia during the uprising.

Seven senior police officials also received life sentences. They include: Former Dhaka Range deputy inspector general Syed Nurul Islam, former Dhaka superintendent of police Md Asaduzzaman Ripon, additional SP Abdullahil Kafi, additional SP Md Shahidul Islam, inspector Masudur Rahman, inspector Nirmal Kumar Das, and inspector Arafat Hossain Arzu.

On August 21, 2024, the ICT-2 had framed charges against all 16 accused while formally commencing the trial. Out of them, eight are absconding and eight are currently in custody.

Describing the incident on August 5, the Daily Star reported prosecutors arguing that Saiful Islam, Nurul Islam, Asaduzzaman Ripon, Abdullahil Kafi, Md Shahidul Islam, AFM Sayed Rony, Masudur Rahman and Nirmal Kumar Das had planned and supervised the atrocities as part of a “joint criminal enterprise”.

They allegedly directed their subordinates, including SIs Abdul Malek, Arafat Uddin and Sheikh Abzalul Haque, ASIs Bishwajit Saha and Kamrul Hasan, and others, to open fire on unarmed protesters in Ashulia, Daily Star noted.