An eye specialist told the International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Monday that 493 young protesters permanently lost one-eye sight after being hit by pellets or bullets during the July 2024 mass uprising.
Dr Zakia Sultana Neela, assistant professor at the National Institute of Ophthalmology & Hospital, gave the testimony as the 21st prosecution witness in a 鈥榗rimes against humanity鈥� case.
The case was filed against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman聽 Khan 鈥� both reportedly in India 鈥� and former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, who is now a state witness.
Dr Neela testified that victims were mostly between 14 and 25 years old. Many had suffered very serious eye injuries from pellets and bullets.
A total of 11 patients lost vision in both eyes permanently, 28 patients had severe visual impairment in both eyes and 47 patients had severe damage in one eye, according to Dr Neela.
She said that the hospital began receiving injured protesters on July 17, 2024 with the numbers increasing sharply on August 4, 5, and 6.
鈥楯uly 18 was soaked in blood,鈥� she recalled. 鈥楽ome youths held one eye with one hand, others covered both eyes. We operated non-stop from morning till night on all 10 operating tables for two straight days,鈥� she added.
Dr Neela presented a power-point show of graphic images of and data on the wounded in the court. One case involved a patient whose eyes were pierced by a bullet, another was a child with severely injured eyes.
She said that around 100 patients were admitted on July 17 alone, and more than 100 others were treated the next day.
Dr Neela also mentioned the patients鈥� fear of law enforcement, which caused many to use nicknames or pseudonyms and provide incorrect mobile and ID card numbers to avoid being arrested.
The tribunal, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, recorded her statement. Other members of the bench included Justice Md Shofiul Alam Mahmood and retired judge Md Mohitul Hoque Anam Chowdhury.
The tribunal-1 also heard testimony from three more witnesses, including Md Idris, a trader from Rampura, and the father of Maruf Hossain, a college student, who was shot dead in front of BRAC University under the jurisdiction of Rampura Police Station in Dhaka on July 19, 2024.
He demanded that Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader, former IGP Mamun, local MP Wakil Uddin, and local public representatives Jahangir Alam and Redwan of Border Guard Bangladesh be held accountable 鈥� along with the officers-in-charge of the Badda and Rampura police stations 鈥� for their roles in ordering or directly participating in his son鈥檚 death.
Idris told the tribunal that his son had come to Dhaka from their home in Barisal to join the protest with his uncle at Rampura Bridge. A video clip played in the courtroom showed BGB member Redwan firing indiscriminately at protesters, while police officers stood beside him without intervening.
Idris made a serious allegation that a police officer stopped the ambulance carrying his bullet-injured son and tried to send it back, claiming that the boy had already died 鈥� even though he was still alive and on life support.
鈥楾he officer hit my son鈥檚 injured area to check if he was really dead,鈥� he said.
He further alleged that the Dhaka Medical College Hospital delayed handing over his son鈥檚 body for two days, adding to the family鈥檚 pain as the then Badda OC refused to give clearance that no protester was killed under his jurisdiction.
The tribunal adjourned the hearing until Tuesday morning.
