Police fired a hail of bullets from an armoured personnel carrier (APC) in Dhaka’s Jatrabari on 20 July 2024 before allegedly dragging Imam Hasan Taim Bhuiyan from a tea shop in Kajla and shooting him, prosecutors told the International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Monday.
Presenting their closing arguments in a crimes against humanity case against 11 accused, including former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman, prosecutors Mizanul Islam and Faruk Ahammad described Taim’s killing as part of widespread and systematic crimes against humanity allegedly committed across the country during the July mass uprising.
The prosecution also presented video evidence of the killing and referred to a recorded conversation between the then home minister and a police officer.
Citing the testimony of the first prosecution witness, the prosecutors said hundreds of police personnel had been deployed in Jatrabari on 20 July.
Police were firing relentlessly from an APC when Taim and his friends went to a tea stall at Kajla, east of Jatrabari, seeking shelter from the violence.
Shortly afterwards, 25 to 30 police officers gathered near the stall, prompting Taim and his friends to pull down its shutter.
According to the witness, some officers suggested killing those inside in a staged crossfire.
Police ordered the occupants to open the shutter, but they refused. Officers subsequently forced it open and dragged Taim outside.
One officer then shot him in his left leg and near his waist, the prosecution told the tribunal, citing witness testimony.
The prosecutors further alleged that police looted various items from the shop, including cigarettes worth Tk25,000.
Shahriar, Taim’s friend and a prosecution witness, attempted to take him to hospital but was prevented by police, according to his testimony.
Police allegedly threatened Shahriar, saying: “Do you want to die, or will you leave? Don’t look back. Run.”
Video of shooting shown in court
During closing arguments, the prosecution alleged that three officers from Jatrabari Police Station directly participated in Taim’s killing.
They were the station’s then inspector (investigation) Zakir Hossain, inspector (operations) Wahidul Haque Mamun and sub-inspector (unarmed) Sajjad Uz Zaman.
Video footage of two officers and a still photograph of another were presented before the tribunal.
According to the prosecution, the footage showed the officers opening fire. Prosecutors also alleged that a protester attempting to flee was shot.
The prosecution cited eyewitness accounts from Rahat, Liton and Shahriar, arguing that their descriptions of the incident were consistent.
Their testimony indicated that Zakir fired 196 rounds on 20 July, while Mamun fired two rounds from his pistol, prosecutors said.
The tribunal was also shown a video recording of a conversation between then home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and deputy commissioner (DC) Iqbal Hossain.
According to the prosecution, the recording captured a voice saying: “I fire one shot, only one goes off, the rest don’t, sir.”
Footage of Taim being shot and a still photograph of Sajjad were also presented in court.
Taim’s father, police sub-inspector Moynal Hossain Bhuiyan, said police shot his son at close range in the Kajla area of Jatrabari on 20 July 2024.
According to his account, Taim’s friend Rahat was also shot when he attempted to save him.
Nine of 11 accused absconding
Of the 11 accused in the case, only two have been arrested.
They are former Jatrabari Police Station officer-in-charge Abul Hasan and former sub-inspector Shahadat Ali.
The remaining nine accused are absconding.
They are former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, former joint commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former Wari Zone DC Iqbal Hossain, additional DC Shakil Mohammad Shamim, then Demra Zone additional DC Md Masudur Rahman Monir, then assistant commissioner Nahid Ferdous, former Jatrabari Police Station inspector (investigation) Zakir Hossain, inspector (operations) Wahidul Haque Mamun and sub-inspector (unarmed) Sajjad Uz Zaman.
The International Crimes Tribunal framed charges against all 11 accused on 22 February.
