Two of the three prosecution witnesses told the International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Wednesday that police personnel in printed uniforms, present in the capital鈥檚 Chankharpool area on August 5, 2024, were speaking in Hindi during the killing of six protesters during the July uprising.
The tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, recorded the testimonies in connection with the case of crimes against humanity committed in the Chankharpool area.
The tribunal adjourned the hearing until August 20.
Shahid Ahmed, 40, a resident of Nazimuddin Road in Chankharpool, who testified as the fifth prosecution witness, said that he witnessed police officers speaking in Hindi on August 5, 2024 during the demonstration in the Chankharpool area.
Shahid鈥檚 testimony followed the evidence of Rahima Akhter, a housewife, who testified as the fourth prosecution witness in the case on the same day.
She demanded justice for the killing of her son Yakib during the 2024 July uprising.聽
鈥楲ater, through TV news, video footage, and other media, I came to know that those who opened fire were in printed uniforms,鈥� she told the tribunal.
Shahid, an uncle of Yakib, one of the six protesters shot dead on August 5, 2024, testified that he, his son Salman, his nephew Yakib, and two locals, Russel and Sohel, were heading towards Ganabhaban at about 11:30am that day.
As they reached Chankharpool, they found that thousands of people gathered there.
鈥業 saw many police officers wearing printed uniforms. Some were speaking in Hindi,鈥� Shahid told the tribunal.
鈥楶olice stopped us and started firing in the air. A man standing next to me was shot. When I tried to help him, I learned my nephew Yakib had also been shot.鈥�
Shahid said that he rushed Yakib to Mitford Hospital in a rickshaw and doctors there declared him dead.
Later, his son informed Yakib鈥檚 mother, Rahima Akhter, about the incident.
Shahid also claimed that he later learned from news reports and social media that the shooting was allegedly ordered by the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the then home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, the then inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, and the then DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman.
He named several police officers involved in the shooting, including Constables Sujan, Nasirul, and Imaz, in the presence of DMP official Mohammad Imrul and Inspector Arshad.
Rahima Akhter told the tribunal that she had learnt from news reports and video footage that police in printed uniforms had opened fire on protesters.
鈥極ur neighbor Shahid recorded the incident on his mobile phone. I saw it later on TV. The video and Yakib鈥檚 treatment records were handed over to the investigation officer,鈥� she said.
鈥業 demand justice for my innocent son and want punishment for those who ordered his killing,鈥� Rahima told the tribunal.
鈥業 want trials of Sheikh Hasina, Obaidul Quader, and others who were responsible,鈥� she said.
She said that Yakib, 35, worked as a deliveryman in the New Market area. He joined the protests daily from July 1 to August 4, 2024, and was shot on Nazimuddin Road on August 5, 2024.
Another witness, Md Mohibul Haq, testified about his younger brother, Ismamul Haque, 17, who worked at a shop in Chawkbazar.
Ismamul was also shot during the August 5, 2024 protest and died two days later at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Mohibul said that he and another relative brought Ismamul鈥檚 body back to Chattogram.
鈥楾here was no post-mortem report. We have only a death certificate,鈥� he added.
The eight accused in the case are DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, former joint commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former Ramna additional deputy commissioner Shah Alam Md Akhterul Islam, former Ramna assistant commissioner Mohammad Imrul, Shahbagh police inspector Ashrad Hossain, and suspended APBn constables Sujan Hossain, Imaz Hossain Imon, and Nasirul Islam.
Of them, detained Arshad, Sujan, Imaz and Nasirul were in the dock.
