Staff Reporter :
A disturbing video showing a van filled with dead bodies recently went viral on social media, sparking widespread concern and speculation.
The graphic footage is believed to show individuals who were likely killed during the quota reform movement, possibly by police or affiliates of the ruling party.
As the video circulated online, questions arose about the location of the incident. The fact-checking organization Rumor Scan later confirmed that the incident occurred in an area adjacent to the Ashulia police station.
However, the identities of the victims remain unknown at this time. Rumor Scan shared these findings with the media on Saturday.
In the viral video, several bodies are seen piled up in a van, with a police officer moving another body into the vehicle. The bodies were subsequently covered with a poster, and other police officers are seen walking around the scene. Some viewers have questioned whether those wearing police jackets were genuine police officers.
One of the officers seen in the video is Inspector Arafat Hossain, who is the Inspector (Investigation) of Dhaka District North Intelligence Police. Hossain, originally from Barisal, joined the Dhaka district intelligence department around two years ago. Following the release of the video, Inspector Hossain has reportedly gone into hiding.
According to Rumor Scan, the video was filmed near the Ashulia police station on the afternoon of August 5. Two local residents claimed that the poster visible in the video featured Abul Hossain Bhuiyan, a candidate for ward number 7 of Dhamsona Union in Ashulia. It has been reported that the poster is no longer present, as all the walls in the area were repainted shortly after August 5.
This incident follows a period of intense unrest related to the anti-discrimination movement. On July 15, the Chhatra League reportedly attacked ordinary students at several universities, including in Dhaka. During this time, police also opened fire to suppress student protests.
Reports indicate that on August 4, hundreds of people were killed in clashes between government-backed leaders, activists, and protesters, along with police forces, during a phase of the student-led anti-discrimination movement.
In the wake of these events, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left the country for India on August 5. Several MPs and ministers have since fled abroad, while others have gone into hiding or have been arrested and remanded.