The International Crimes Tribunal has ordered Narsingdi Executive Magistrate Saiful Islam and Additional Superintendent of Police Anirban Chowdhury to be sent to jail in connection with ordering police to open fire during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement last year.
The tribunal issued the order on Monday following a hearing on a petition filed by the prosecution.
They are accused of involvement in the fatal police shooting of student Tahmid Bhuiyan on July 18, during the movement.
When enraged citizens attempted to march with his body in protest, police opened fire again, killing another person.
Chief Prosecutor Advocate Tazul Islam said several executive magistrates involved in giving the shooting order have been identified.
"Legal action will be taken against them in phases. So far, 141 individuals have been accused in 22 cases, with only 54 arrested—most of whom are police personnel," he added.
He said the investigation report will reveal the involvement of suspects from various professions.
Formal charges, including in Sheikh Hasina’s case and four others, will be submitted soon to begin trial proceedings, the chief prosecutor mentioned.
Tahmid Bhuiyan, a 10th-grade student, was killed on July 18, during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Narsingdi, a district adjacent to Dhaka.
His death by police firing sparked mass outrage. As people attempted to march with his body, another round of police fire claimed another life.
In Narsingdi alone, nearly 20 people were killed and over 1,000 injured during the July movement.
The prosecution stated that Executive Magistrate Saiful Islam directly ordered police to open fire.
Both Saiful Islam and Anirban Chowdhury, now formally accused in the Narsingdi massacre case, were arrested and produced before the tribunal.
They were later sent to jail.
