| Ashulia immolation killings | |
|---|---|
| Part of July massacre | |
 Burning corpse over a police van near the police station. | |
| Location | Ashulia, Savar Upazila, Dhaka District, Bangladesh |
| Date | 5 August 2024 c. 12:15 pm (UTC+6) |
Attack type | |
| Deaths | 6 [1] |
| Perpetrators | Bangladesh Police |
| Charges | Crimes against humanity [2] |
The Ashulia immolation killings occurred on 5 August 2024 in Ashulia, a suburb of Savar, Bangladesh, [3] during the final day of the nationwide July revolution. [4]
In early July 2024, Bangladesh experienced significant civil unrest, commonly referred to as the July Revolution. [5] This period, primarily spanning from mid-July to early August 2024, was characterized by widespread protests across the nation. [6] These demonstrations were met with significant state repression that resulted in over one thousand casualties as per United Nations report and is often referred to as the July massacre. [7]
The protests initially emerged around July 16, 2024, driven by student opposition to a discriminatory government job quota system. [8] However, the government's forceful response, including reported attacks on peaceful student demonstrators, escalated the movement. [9] The scope of the protests broadened to encompassed grievances against the then-government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, including concerns about the economy, allegations of corruption, and human rights issues. [10]
As the unrest intensified nationwide, accompanied by a government response involving the use of live ammunition, a reported "shoot at sight" order, and a nationwide internet shutdown and curfew, these protests culminated in a large-scale march towards the prime minister's residence in Dhaka. [11] This series of events ultimately led to Sheikh Hasina's departure from the country on 5 August 2024, and the subsequent change in government. [12]
As part of the Long March to Dhaka protets were also initiated in the Ashulia area of Savar. [13] [14] Around 2:45 PM (UTC+06:00), confrontation between the protesters and law enforcement present at the site intensified. [15] [16]
At around 3:00 PM, Bangladesh Police's DMP division started shooting pellets and blanks aiming towards the protesters. [17] [18] During which six of the protesters were hit, among which, five of them were fatal. [19] The shooting took place simultaneously with the resignation of Sheikh Hasina. [20]
Following shootings, the police personnel placed the bodies of the deceased individuals, [21] [22] along with the injured person, into a police van. [23] [24]
The prosecution during the legal proceedings alleged that the police then applied petrol to the van and set it ablaze. [25] A detail and autopsy presented by the prosecution is that one of the victims was reportedly still alive at the time the vehicle was ignited and subsequently died in the fire. [26]
A video, which later circulated across national and international media showed, police personnel and some civil dressed individuals standing in the premise of the van and watching the cadavar being burned. [27] [28]
On 11 September 2024, a case was initially filed with the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), alleging crimes against humanity which listed 11 individuals including, former MP Mohammad Saiful Islam, former ASP (Savar Circle) Md Shahidul Islam. [29] By 2 July 2025, eight of the accused were arrested, and seven of them were produced before court. [30]