ICT case against Hasina: Testimony, cross-examination underway

The recording of testimony and cross-examination is underway for the 14th day against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, including three others, in a murder case.

The three-member panel of the International Crimes Tribunal-1 led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder has started the day's hearing on Tuesday.

Earlier on September 8, three people testified on the 13th day of the hearing. However, SI Md. Ashraful Islam, who testified as the 39th witness, was not cross-examined. He will be cross-examined today by state-appointed lawyer Md. Amir Hossain on behalf of Sheikh Hasina and Kamal. After that, the testimony will begin.

In his statement, SI Ashraful said: "During the anti-discrimination movement on August 5, 2024, ASI Murad, Nayek Jasim, Constable Mahmudul, Constable Mehedi, Constable Nasirul, Constable Mahbub, a platoon including SI Helal and his force, i.e. 40 officers and forces, under their respective names, along with weapons, bullets, bulletproof jackets, etc., left from Mirpur Police Lines at 4am. We reached Shahbagh Police Station after 6am for urgent duty. I came to know that DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman and Joint Commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty had come to Shahbagh Police Station at 5am that day. They came to the police station and gave other instructions to the senior police officers to suppress the movement that day, including firing.'

He said: "That day, the protesters had a March to Dhaka programme. At 9 am, the then ADC of Ramna Zone Shah Alam Mohammad Akhtarul Islam briefed the law and order responsibilities including two of our platoons, a platoon from DMP, a platoon from 13-APBN and a platoon of women police from Rajarbagh. After the briefing, 60 to 65 policemen, apart from two platoons of women police and DMP police, reached the Central Shaheed Minar. We were led by ADC Akhtarul Sir, AC Imrul Sir and Arshad Sir. After going to the Shaheed Minar, some people including AC Imrul Sir threw a few sound grenades. As a result, the protesters dispersed. Then, on the orders of ADC Akhtarul Sir, some protesters were arrested from the Central Shaheed Minar and sent to Shahbagh Police Station in a prison van. Later, as per his instructions, AC Imrul Sir, Arshad Sir and 15-20 APBN members, 10-15 members of DMP, along with me and my companions Constables Piyas, Asif, Akash, Nasirul reached Chankharpul on foot between 10:30 and 11:00 am. At that time, thousands of students and people from Bangshal-Chawkbazar area wanted to go towards Shahbagh to participate in the March to Dhaka programme. But on the orders of ADC Akhtarul, shots were fired with sound grenades, gas guns and shotguns without any need. APBn tried to disperse the students and people by firing shotguns."

"At that time, ADC Akhtarul Sir told us, those of you who have pistols and Chinese rifles, fire at the protesters and kill them."

"Then, when I and a few others did not obey this unnecessary and illegal order, Sir started abusing us in unspeakable language. He threatened us and said, Don't you get the government's salary and ration? Why don't you shoot? I will take your jobs. Even then, I refrained from firing with my pistol. Then, Constable Nasirul Islam used the extra bullets provided by ADC Akhtarul Sir. On the instructions and as shown by Sir, he loaded the bullets into the China rifle while sitting on the road. At the same time, he kept firing repeatedly, targeting the protesters."

The witness further said that ADC Akhtarul Sir snatched the China rifle from the hands of an APBn constable and gave it to another constable, Sujan. The one from whose hands the China rifle was snatched, then refrained from firing.

"Later, I learned that his name was Ajay. Then, at the Chankharpul intersection, Constable Sujan started shooting with the Chinese rifle, sometimes standing, sometimes lying, sometimes kneeling, at the protesters. APBn constable Imaz Hossain Emon also fired at the protesters with a China rifle issued in his name. Several protesters were shot and fell on the road. Later, other protesters caught hold of the injured. At one stage, AC Imrul Sir and Inspector Arshad Sir, along with five to seven members of APBn, entered various lanes of Nazimuddin Road with China rifles and started shooting."

In his statement, this police officer said: "After hearing that Sheikh Hasina had fled, the situation in the Chankharpul area went out of control at around 2:30pm. Then, on the orders of ADC Akhtarul Sir, we entered the police station through the TSC intersection, Suhrawardy Udyan, and from behind the Shahbagh police station. In addition, on the orders of Sir, we deposited the weapons issued in our names in the armory of Shahbagh police station. However, Constable Nasirul submitted 40 rounds of bullets from the Chinese rifle issued in his name. I asked him – How did you submit 40 rounds of bullets even after firing with a Chinese rifle at Chankharpul? In reply, he said – ADC Akhtarul sir provided me with extra bullets. Then, after changing clothes and wearing civilian clothes, I left behind Shahbagh police station and walked with the students and the public to Mirpur police lines at 11 pm."

Earlier on September 2, former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who was an accused in the case and turned into a state approver and the 36th witness in this case. His cross-examination ended on September 4.

He apologized, saying that the massacre was carried out in July-August on the orders of Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. At the same time, many unknown information was brought before the tribunal. So far, 39 people have testified in this case.