STAFF CORRESPONDENT

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

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