A police officer on Monday testified before the International Crimes Tribunal-1, accusing his seniors, including former Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Habibur Rahman, DMP joint commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakrabarty and DMP assistant deputy commissioner Shah Alam Md Akhterul Islam, of unlawfully ordering police to open fire on unarmed protesters during the July 2024 mass uprising.
A three-member tribunal,聽 led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, recorded the testimony of police sub-inspector Ashraful Islam 鈥� the first police officer to testify against his superior officers in the ongoing crimes against humanity case.
The case involves deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, and former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun for their superior command responsibilities in the atrocities of the July uprising across the country.
The killing of six protesters at Chankharpool during the uprising is one of five charges brought against the three main accused, who held superior command responsibilities as the country鈥檚 executive head and top law enforcement officials.
In a separate case, the same tribunal is also trying former DMP commissioner Habibur, joint commissioner Sudip, DMP assistant deputy commissioner Shah Alam and five other police officers over the Chankharpool killings.
The tribunal is scheduled to record the testimonies of new prosecution witnesses in that case today.
Mamun, originally an accused, has later become a state witness (approver) and has also testified against the former prime minister and the former home minister.
Ashraful Islam is the 39th prosecution witness in the case.
The tribunal is scheduled to hear cross-examination of Ashraful today. The cross-examination will be conducted by state-appointed defence counsel Amir Hossain, representing fugitive accused Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan.
Ashraful Islam, 48, who led one police platoon from Mirpur Police Line in the capital, told the tribunal that around 100 police officers gathered at the Shahbagh police station during the July 2024 protests.
He said that they later learned that the DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman and joint commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty had visited the station.
There they allegedly instructed subordinate officers to open fire on the protesters and also to take other measures to control the protesters.
Afterward, ADC Shah Alam briefed the officers on their assigned duties.
Ashraful Islam, who was later positioned at Chankharpool during the protest on August 5, 2024, said ADC Shah Alam pressured officers to shoot, saying:
鈥榊ou receive government salaries and rations, why won鈥檛 you shoot?鈥�
Ashraful, who was promoted to SI from constable in July 13, 2018, said that ADC Shah Alam commanded around 100 officers during the operation in Shahbagh, Chankharpool, Bangshal, and Chawkbazar on August 5, 2024, hours before prime minister Sheikh Hasina was deposed and fled to India through the mass uprising.
SI Ashraful said that ADC Shah Alam allegedly supplied extra bullets to officers who had used up their standard issue of 40 rounds.
He alleged that constable Md Nasirul Islam reportedly received an additional 40 bullets from Shah Alam and fired on protesters.
He alleged that Shah Alam took a Chinese rifle from constable Ajoy by force and handed it to APBn constable Sujan, instructing him to shoot from standing, sitting, and lying positions.
Ashraf alleged that APBn constable Imaz Hossain Emon also fired at protesters using a Chinese rifle.
He stated that he refused to shoot, for which Shah Alam verbally abused him, calling him a 鈥榮on of a bitch鈥� and threatened him with punishment.
鈥楬e [ADC Shah Alam] said, 鈥楾hose who have pistols and Chinese rifles, fire on the protesters and kill them,鈥� Ashraful testified.
According to Ashraful, the police used sound grenades, tear gas, shotguns and gas guns to disperse the crowds.
The force led by ADC Shah Alam moved through Central Shahid Minar areas in Dhaka where the protest was gaining momentum.
Ashraful also described seeing protesters lying on the ground, injured and being carried away by fellow demonstrators.
He further claimed that indiscriminate shooting took place in the lanes of Nazimuddin Road, led by a separate team under AC Imrul and inspector Arshad Hossain.
Ashraful said that the situation spiralled out of control when news spread that prime minister Sheikh Hasina had fled to India.
The police then retreated through the TSC and went back to the Shahbagh police station.
Some officers from the Mirpur Police Lines, Ashraf said, surrendered their weapons at the Shahbagh police station that night.
He also questioned how constable Nasirul returned the same number of bullets he had reportedly fired 鈥� to which Nasirul allegedly admitted receiving extra rounds from ADC Shah Alam.
Ashraful said that officers later changed into plain clothes and quietly left the area, walking back to the Mirpur police lines on foot.
