Describing a horrific scene at Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue, Taslima Akter testified that she found 300 to 400 bodies stacked one on top of another while searching for her bullet-ridden son, Mohammad Ismail, on 19 July 2024.
She identified her son’s body by the clothes he was wearing and mentioned a gunshot wound to his head.
Taslima delivered her deposition on Monday before International Crimes Tribunal-1 in a case filed against 28 individuals, including Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, over the shooting and attacks on protesters in Mohammadpur during the July Mass Uprising.
Prosecutor Tareq Abdullah represented the prosecution, while Ismail’s mother broke down in tears repeatedly during her testimony.
In her deposition, Taslima said on 19 July 2024, after Jummah prayers and lunch, her son Ismail left home at around 3pm and joined the movement in front of the glass factory beside Allah Karim Mosque.
According to her account, at around 7:30pm that evening, Ismail’s friend Monir informed her that he had seen Ismail in front of Allah Karim Mosque and urged him to return home. However, Ismail did not return home and stayed back in the movement.
Taslima explained that she was unable to contact her son directly as she had no balance on her phone. Later, her sister Aklima attempted to call Ismail several times.
Eventually, Ismail’s friend Kalu answered the phone and asked about Aklima’s relationship with him. When Aklima identified herself as Ismail’s maternal aunt, Kalu informed her that Ismail had been shot and was being rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Horrors en route and search at the hospital
Upon receiving the news, Taslima, accompanied by her mother and sister, set off from Dhaka Uddan on a rickshaw towards Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
In her testimony, she recounted seeing fires burning along the way and alleged that Commissioner Asif, Commissioner Rajib, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Taposh, and Biplob were seen carrying weapons. She added that a person was shot dead right in front of her.
Reaching the hospital at around 10pm, Taslima found numerous injured and deceased people in the emergency department. After searching several areas, she inquired with a doctor, who escorted her to the emergency department.
When Ismail was not found there, the doctor showed her a photograph on a mobile phone a short while later, through which Taslima positively identified her son.
The morgue and body retrieval
The doctor then led Taslima to the hospital morgue, where she witnessed 300 to 400 bodies piled one on top of another. She identified her son by his attire and observed a bullet wound to his head.
When she requested her son’s body, hospital authorities stated that it would only be handed over once the officer-in-charge (OC) of the relevant police station arrived.
The following morning, Saturday, Sub-Inspector Saiful from Mohammadpur Police Station arrived at the hospital at around 11am.
Taslima finally received Ismail’s body at around 7pm that evening. She alleged that the hospital authorities took her signature on an undertaking stating that she would not file a case.
Ismail’s body was subsequently washed at Chhatar Mosque, and following funeral prayers (janazah), he was buried in Azimpur Graveyard, according to her statement.
Accusations and demand for justice
In her deposition, Taslima held former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Commissioner Asif, Commissioner Rajib, Russel, Molla Rubel, Commissioner Asif’s PS Biplob, Biplob Kumar, Shoikat, Sajjad Palash, Sattar, Mohammad Ismail, Rashton, and Rawshan, among many others, responsible for the murder of her son.
She added that her daughter Roshni had shown her a video of Ismail’s murder on YouTube, and several local residents who viewed the footage also identified the accused individuals to her. Concluding her deposition, Taslima demanded justice for her son’s murder.
