Moniruzzaman Tazul has testified against four individuals, including two army officers, in a case involving crimes against humanity committed in Dhaka’s Rampura during the July-August mass uprising.
At one point during his deposition, he broke down in tears while describing the killing of his son, Mostafa Zaman Samudra, on 19 July 2024. Tazul, aged 66, gave his testimony before the International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Monday.
In his deposition, Tazul said at around 12:30pm on Friday, 19 July 2024, his son Samudra went out with him to perform Jumu’ah prayers.
The father and son went to different mosques – Samudra prayed at Taqwa Mosque, while he went to Mohammadia Mosque. After the prayers, when he called his son, Samudra informed him that he had finished praying and stepped out.
Tazul said that after prayers, he attended a meeting on the ground floor of his residence.
Later, when he phoned his son again, Samudra mentioned he was drinking tea near Jahaj Building on WAPDA Road. Tazul asked him to return home quickly. That was his last conversation with his son at around 2:30pm.
After returning home, Tazul asked his wife to serve lunch. When his wife asked about Samudra’s whereabouts, Tazul told her to call him. When she phoned, Samudra said he would be home within two minutes.
However, when she called again 8 to 10 minutes later, Samudra’s friend Rafat answered the phone and informed them that Samudra was a short distance away.
Tazul said at around 3pm, when his wife called again, Rafat informed them that Samudra had been shot near Rampura Delta Hospital and urged them to come quickly.
The witness said they reached Delta Hospital at around 3:30pm.
Upon arriving, they found their son lying in the hospital with bullet wounds. The bullet had struck his left arm, pierced his ribs, and lodged inside his chest. His wife then suggested taking Samudra to Better Life Hospital.
Tazul added that walking from Delta Hospital to Better Life Hospital took about five minutes. The duty doctor there examined Samudra and declared him dead. When hospital doctors and staff asked whether he wanted an autopsy conducted, he said that he would not.
After 4pm, Tazul brought his son’s body home in a van. Later, the imam and muezzin of the local mosque arrived, washed the body, and wrapped it in a shroud. His janazah was held after evening, and he was later buried at their village home.
In his testimony, Tazul said his son was shot on DIT Road near Delta Hospital at around 3:30pm. He had gone there to join the movement.
Tazul said he later learned that Redwan, Rafat, Rashed, and Mashiur had shot his son.
According to him, he also learned later that Redwan and Rafat were BGB members, while Rashed and Mashiur were police officers. He also heard that Awami League terrorists accompanied them.
During his testimony, Tazul demanded justice for his son’s murder, breaking down in tears as he spoke.
Two accused in the case, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Redwanul Islam and Major Md Rafat-bin-Alam, were serving in the BGB at the time of the incident.
Out of the four accused, these two have been arrested and are currently in prison, while former Police Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Md Rashedul Islam and former Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Mashiur Rahman are absconding.
