The Investigation Agency of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has uncovered evidence indicating that six young protesters were shot and later burned by the police on August 5 in Ashulia.
According to the findings, police opened fire on a group of protesters, killing five on the spot while one youth initially survived the gunfire. The six bodies were then placed on a rickshaw van, wrapped in a carpet, and transported near a police vehicle.
Police officers poured petrol over the bodies and set them alight. The surviving youth, though still alive and wounded, was burned along with the others.
ICT Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam said: "Eyewitnesses testified that as the bodies were burning, one boy was still alive. He was burned alive after petrol was poured on him."
He added: "Our investigation focused on some of the most brutal incidents. The police officers acted with extreme ruthlessness under direct instructions from the government of that time."
He described the findings as "clear evidence of crimes against humanity" carried out during the July-August mass uprising.
“These actions were orchestrated by high-ranking officials of the then-government,” he said.
Two police personnel have already been arrested in connection with the incident, including Constable Mukul Chokder.
A video went viral on social media nearly a month after Sheikh Hasina fled showing multiple blood-sustained dead bodies piled on a van, with two individuals wearing police jackets throwing another body onto the pile.
The 1-minute-50-second video, taken after clashes led to 31 deaths in Savar on August 5, also shows several uniformed police officers present at the scene.
The two-minute video reveals bodies covered with bedsheets, some with hands visibly outstretched, while policemen stand nearby. Two officers, wearing police vests, were seen tossing another body onto the pile.
Locals verified that the scene in the video was filmed on the road in front of the Ashulia Police Station, possibly from a nearby building.
Dhaka District North Detective Police (DB) Inspector (investigation) Arafat Hossain, who appeared unarmed in the video, and Masudur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge (Investigations) of Ashulia Police Station, were both identified.
Arafat Hossain has since been detained and is now in custody.
