A witness at the International Crimes Tribunal-2 revealed that the former OC of Ashulia Police Station, AFM Sayed, and ASI Biswajit Saha were responsible for pouring petrol on the bodies of six protesters and setting them on fire on August 5 last year. The witness, a former SI of the same police station, stated that the police, under the direct orders of the OC, opened fire on a victory procession earlier that day, resulting in the death of several demonstrators.
The witness, who turned into an approver in a crimes against humanity case related to the incident, testified that some of the protesters died instantly. He mentioned that he was not present at the scene during the burning but learned about it upon his return to the police station on August 15, 2024, to return a firearm issued to him.
This witness, identified as the 23rd prosecution witness in the case, is the second accused to become an approver after another former police officer was convicted in a separate crimes against humanity case. The witness described how the events unfolded on the day of the incident, stating that the OC ordered the police force to open fire on the protesters as they approached the police station.
The witness also revealed that the bodies of the fallen protesters were loaded onto a police van, during which he noticed suspicious interactions between the OC and other officers. He later discovered that the OC and ASI were involved in burning the bodies using petrol. The witness expressed disappointment in the lack of punitive actions taken by senior police officials against those responsible for the incident.
The witness detailed how the OC received instructions from a lawmaker to suppress protests and arrest opposition activists, which were then carried out by the police. Arrested in May 2025, the witness decided to become an approver out of a sense of moral responsibility and to honor the memory of the victims.
Charges were framed against 16 accused in the case on August 21 this year, with eight currently in custody. Following the witness’s deposition, the defense initiated cross-examination, which is expected to continue in the upcoming sessions.