Sub-Inspector (SI) Moynal Hossain Bhuiyan has testified before the International Crimes Tribunal-2 that information regarding police gunfire was deliberately concealed in the inquest report of his son, Imam Hasan Taim, who was killed during July mass uprising.
Giving his deposition on Wednesday, SI Moynal said SI Shahadat, who prepared the report, refused to mention that Taim died from police gunfire.
The victim’s father, currently serving in the Welfare and Force Division at Rajarbagh Police Lines, told the tribunal that he was at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on the morning of 21 July 2024.
He identified himself to SI Shahadat of Shahbagh Police Station and requested a swift inquest and post-mortem, informing him that his son had been shot dead by police.
However, SI Moynal alleged that Shahadat ignored his pleas, focused on personal tasks, and delayed the process until midday. When the inquest finally began at 12pm, the officer reportedly recorded “holes and black spots” instead of gunshot wounds.
When questioned about the omission, SI Shahadat reportedly told Moynal that it was an “order from above” and that he could not mention the gunfire. He further claimed the youth had died due to “attacks and gunfire from the students and the public.”
SI Moynal explained to the tribunal that he felt compelled to sign the report under extreme duress.
“My son was dead. There was the possibility of losing my job. Over 24 hours had passed since his death, and the body had begun to decompose,” he said. Following further delays, the post-mortem was eventually completed at 4:30pm.
Imam Hasan Taim was killed on 20 July 2024, when police opened fire from close range in the Kajla area of Jatrabari. When Taim’s friend, Rahat, attempted to save him, police also fired upon him.
The testimony was given in a case involving crimes against humanity filed against 11 individuals.
Out of the 11 accused, two were produced before the tribunal from prison on Wednesday: the then Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Jatrabari Police Station, Abul Hasan, and former SI Shahadat Ali.
The nine remaining accused, who are currently absconding, include former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, DMP former joint commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former DC of Wari Zone Iqbal Hossain, ADC Shakil Mohammad Shamim, then ADC of Demra Zone Md Masudur Rahman Monir, then assistant commissioner of Police Nahid Ferdous, then Jatrabari police inspector (investigation) Zakir Hossain, Police Inspector (Operations) Ohidul Haque Mamun, and SI (Unarmed) Sajjad Uz Zaman.
Arrest warrants were issued against the 11 accused on 24 December last year, and charges were framed on 22 February.
Prosecutor Sahidul Islam Sardar conducted the hearing for the prosecution, assisted by Prosecutors Abdus Sobhan Tarafder and Sheikh Moinul Karim. State-appointed lawyer Hasan Imam represented the fugitive accused.
