A police officer on Tuesday told the International Crimes Tribunal-1 that he had received a wireless message from the then DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman on July 17, 2024, ordering the use of maximum force against the July protesters and to shoot at them below the waist to contain the protest.
Assistant sub-inspector Kamrul Hasan, who was on duty as a wireless operator at the DMP鈥檚 Crime Command and Control Centre, made the remarks during his testimony before the tribunal.
He appeared before the tribunal as the 50th prosecution witness in the crimes against humanity case against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, and detained former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun.
They were accused of command responsibilities for atrocities committed across the country during the July uprising.
Hasina and Asaduzzaman are facing the trial in absentia.
Accused Mamun, now state evidence, was in the dock.
Ex-DMP chief Habibur Rahman, now in hiding, and his several subordinate officers are facing trials in two other cases over the killings at Chankharpool and Rampura. Habibur is facing the trials for his superior command responsibilities.
State-appointed counsel Amir Hossain, who has been representing Hasina and Asaduzzaman, cross-examined ASI Kamrul鈥檚 statements.
The three-judge tribunal, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, adjourned the hearing until Wednesday morning.
Prosecutor Gazi Monwar Hossain Tamim later told reporters that the investigation officer of the case, Md Alamgir Mia, will testify as the 51st prosecution witness today.
An investigation officer generally testifies in a case as the last prosecution witness.
Tamim said that the officer had seized deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 several phone call recordings and would testify about their contents.
The audio clippings will be played before the tribunal, and the proceedings will be broadcast live, he said.
ASI Kamrul submitted that the DMP commissioner instructed the police units to 鈥榮hoot protesters below the waist鈥� in a kneeling position to protect lives and public property.
鈥業 am giving you freedom to shoot below the waist in kneeling position, to prevent protesters and protect lives and property. You may use your maximum force by understanding the prevailing situation,鈥� the wireless message said.
Kamrul testified that he received the message from his wireless of the then DMP chief between 11:00am and 11:30am on July 17, 2024.
He also claimed that Habibur ordered the use of Chinese rifles, although the audio message did not specifically mention the type of weapon to be used.
CID forensic expert Shahed Zubayer Lorence also testified for the second time to authenticate audio conversations between Sheikh Hasina and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president Hasanul Haq Inu.
In those conversations, Hasina shared her order to hurl bombs on student protesters, to Innu.
On Monday, Sabrina Afroza Sebonti, sister of July 2024 martyr Mahamudur Rahman Saikat, also testified. She stated that she heard the controversial audio clip circulating on social media, in which the order to shoot was allegedly issued.
