An emotional moment swept through the courtroom of the International Crimes Tribunal-1 before the deposition of Khokon Chandra Narmand began as part of the trials of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her co-accused, Asaduzzaman Khan, former home minister, and Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, former inspector general of police, for the crimes against humanity during the 2024 July mass uprising.
Many lawyers, court staff, and journalists were seen in tears as a documentary was played, featuring testimonies from victims and families of those killed during the July uprising. The video of state-owned Bangladesh Television, sourced from YouTube, was presented by the prosecution.
Khokon, the first witness of the case, now 23, survived a police shooting that left him severely disfigured. He lost his left eye, suffered partial vision loss in the other, and sustained facial injuries that have made it difficult for him to speak clearly.
He described the events of August 5, 2024, when he was shot near the Jatrabari flyover.
Police from the nearby Jatrabari Police Station opened fire on protesters. Khokon had taken shelter inside a drum under the flyover when a bullet struck his face, narrowly missing his head.
Khokon said fellow protesters found his mobile phone in his pocket and used it to contact his family. Initially refused treatment at Mugda Medical College Hospital and a dialysis centre, he was later treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and the Mirpur Dental Hospital.
He was eventually transferred to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, where interim government advisors assured him of overseas treatment. He was treated at the intensive care unit of the hospital for one month.
He was flown to Russia for reconstructive surgery on January 21, 2025, and returned home on April 7. A second round of surgeries is scheduled for August 18, 2025.
Khokon testified that he regularly joined the uprising protests, particularly on July 18 and 19, 2024.
On August 5, 2024, he left his home in Bhuichar around 9:30 am and joined the demonstration at Signboard Point in Jatrabari.
Protesters were initially blocked by police and Border Guard Bangladesh. Although the BGB allowed the march to proceed at around noon, the police suddenly opened fire.
鈥業 saw a protester collapse, blood gushing out of his body like a slaughtered cow,鈥� he said.
Another person was shot, and bullets continued to fly.
Khokon said army troops later arrived and ordered the police to retreat. Protesters cheered and chanted slogans when news spread that Sheikh Hasina had resigned. But once the army left, the police returned and began firing again.
Protesters scattered, some hiding under the flyover pillars. Khokon was shot in the hand and leg before taking refuge in the drum, where a bullet hit his face.
Unable to speak, he raised his hands and screamed silently for help.
During cross-examination, tribunal-appointed defense lawyer Amir Hossain challenged Khokon鈥檚 testimony.
He claimed that as a driver for Sim Group of Fabrics in Gawsia, Khokon couldn鈥檛 have attended daily protests. He also pointed to inconsistencies between his court statements and earlier reports to investigators.
The lawyer argued that many protesters, including Khokon, may have been injured by weapons used by demonstrators themselves. He further claimed that 13 to 14 police officers were killed at the Jatrabari Police Station during the uprising, allegedly by armed protesters.
Amir also questioned Khokon鈥檚 spiritual remarks, noting a contradiction between his supposed religious beliefs and his emotional expressions in the courtroom video.
