The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Wednesday ordered the publication of a public notice in newspapers, directing eight absconding accused to appear before the court on July 28.

The eight are facing a case of crimes against humanity in connection with the killing of six youths and the burning of their bodies in Ashulia, on the outskirts of Dhaka, on August 5, 2024.

Five of the victims have been identified so far, and another remains unidentified. The identified victims are Sajjad Hossain (Sajal), As Sabur, Tanzil Mahmud Sujoy, Bayezid Bustami and Abul Hossain.

The tribunal of Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury, Judge Manjurul Bashid and Judge Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir issued the order after the inspector general of police had reported that the police had failed to arrest the eight accused, who remain in hiding.

The absconding accused are former independent lawmaker for Dhaka-12 Saiful Islam, former deputy inspector general of police Nurul Islam, former superintendent of police of Savar circle Asaduzzaman Ripon, former additional SP of Savar circle Saidul Islam, former Ashulia police station officer-in-charge AFM Sayeed Roni, former inspector (investigation) Md Masudur Rahman, former inspector (operation) Nirmul Kumar Das, former sub-inspector Biswajit Saha and local Juba League leader Rani Bhuiyan.

The tribunal also ordered the jail authorities to produce the eight detained accused at the next hearing.

The detained accused are dismissed additional SP Abdullah Al Kafi, former additional SP Md Shahidul Islam, DB inspector Md Arafat Hossain Arju, sub-inspectors Arafat Uddin, Abdul Malek, and Sheikh Afzalul Haque, ASI Kamrul Hasan and former Constable Mukul Chowkder.

On July 3, chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam, assisted by prosecutor Saimum Reza Talukder, submitted formal charges against 16 of the accused.

The tribunal also took cognizance of the charges against the 16 accused.

According to the complaint, on August 5, 2024, police opened fire on a protest in Ashulia, killing five people and severely injuring another. The bodies were allegedly loaded into a police van, doused with petrol, and set on fire.

The case is based on multiple complaints filed with the Chief Prosecutor’s Office.

The Investigation Agency began its probe on October 6, 2024.