The global premiere of a documentary film titled ‘Shoot me, I bare my chest’, a counter forensic investigation into the killing of Abu Sayeed, was held at DrikPath Bhobon at Panthapath in the capital Dhaka on Friday.
The Drik Picture Library and the Forensic Architecture, a UK-based research agency, conducted the counter forensic investigation into the killing of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur student Abu Sayeed on July 16, 2024, during a nationwide student protest against the quota system in government jobs.
The protest later turned into a mass uprising that ousted the authoritarian Awami League regime on August 5, 2024.
An exhibition featuring the details of the investigation also was inaugurated at Drik Gallery at the same venue. The film will be screened at the July Uprising Memorial Museum to be set up at the Ganabhaban in the capital.
The film counters the official narrative of the ousted Sheikh Hasina’s government that Sayeed was killed by protesters using bricks and firearms, police fired rubber bullets and he went to hospital five hours after the incident.
The counter forensic investigations by the Drik Picture Library and Forensic Architecture using interviews, photogrammetry, heat maps, satellite imagery and video evidence, challenged the state denial by exposing deliberate use of lethal force by police.
After the screening of the film, Jumanah Bawazir, an advanced researcher from the Forensic Architecture, shared insights into the investigative process behind their work while Forensic Architecture technology researcher Nicholas Alistair Masterton, NTV staff cameraman in Rangpur Asaduzzaman Arman, Kalerkantho photo-journalist in Rangpur Ador Rahman, Naya Diganta correspondent at Begum Rokeya University Tawhidul Haque Siam and Drik network coordinator photojournalist Parvez Ahmed Rony spoke at the event moderated by Drik Picture Library managing director Shahidul Alam.
At an open discussion, Bangladesh interim government law adviser Asif Nazrul, journalist Tasneem Khalil and Bangladesh Tree Protection Movement coordinator Amirul Rajib spoke while Kingdom of the Netherlands ambassador to Bangladesh Andre Carstens and chief adviser’s press secretary Shafiqul Alam, among others, were present.
Jumanah Bawazir said that this film would help to do proper justice regarding the case of Abu Sayeed and would create pressure on the government for ensuring justice.
Shahidul Alam said that they would organise a workshop on forensic investigation, which would help in investigation in future.
Curated by ASM Rezaur Rahman, the exhibition will end on July 26. Â