A government physician on Tuesday told the International Crimes Tribunal-1 that leaders of the pro-Awami League doctors’ platform, Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad (SWACHIP), had barred the other doctors from treating victims of the July uprising past year, labelling the protesters ‘terrorists’.
Dr Mustaq Ahmed, a resident surgeon at Dhaka Medical College, testified as 27 prosecution witness in the crimes against humanity case against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan — both fugitives believed to be in India — and former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, who has turned an approver after initially being accused.
He also told the tribunal that armed members of the now-banned pro-government student group, Bangladesh Chhatra League, blocked ambulances carrying injured protesters near the Shahidullah Hall gate of Dhaka University as they were being taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
The three-member tribunal, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, and along with two members — Justice Md Shofiul Alam Mahmood and retired district judge Md Mohitul Hoque Anam Chowdhury — adjourned proceedings until September 1.
Four other witnesses included Mitford Hospital assistant director Mafizur Rahman and Dhaka Medical College Hospital assistant registrar Monirul Islam, who testified on the same day that they stored bullets and pellets removed from injured protesters in the uprising that ousted the authoritarian Awami League regime on August 5, 2024.
Two civilian witnesses also testified — Saidur Rahman Khan, grandfather of slain Class X student Shahriar Khan Anas, who was shot dead on August 5, 2024, at Chankharpool, and Nasir Uddin, who sustained bullet injuries in his leg during a protest in Feni.
A total of 29 prosecution witnesses have been testified in the case.
Dr Mustaq said that on SWACHIP’s order, five doctors were reportedly transferred from the DMCH over showing ‘too much sympathy’ towards the victims by them.
He said that SWACHIP members questioned doctors about the identities of injured protesters.
Some patients later requested anonymity, and a few even removed their bandages out of fear of being targeted.
He said that he found many victims of the July 2024 mass uprising, who have been shot from above — possibly from high-rise building or helicopter.
Dr Mustaq told the tribunal that several victims reported being shot in the head, with bullets exiting through their backs. ‘That indicates the bullets were fired from a higher position like from windows of high-rise building or helicopters,’ he said.
‘In earlier cases, bullet trajectories typically went from down to up,’ he added. ‘But the July uprising victims showed a clear top-down pattern.’
Mustaq treated several victims brought in between July 19–21 and August 4–5, 2024. He recalled treating a man and his son who were both shot. The father died, while the son, who survived, expressed regret for not being able to save his father.
Chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam and his team members, including Mizanul Islam, Gazi Monwar Hossain Tamim, Abdus Sobhan Tarafder, Faruk Ahmed and Shahidul Islam Sarder, were present in tribunal.
Amir Hossain, the state-appointed defence counsel for Hasina and Asaduzzaman, cross-examined the witnesses.
