A victim on Tuesday told the International Crimes Tribunal-1 that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and several senior political figures had ordered a deadly crackdown to suppress the July mass uprising in 2024.
The witness, Adham Bin Amin, gave his deposition before the tribunal, alleging that he learned through social media of purported phone conversations between then Law Minister Anisul Huq and former adviser Salman F Rahman in which curfew measures and directives to “kill everyone” were discussed.
He further claimed that Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman and Obaidul Quader, among others, were involved.
The tribunal recorded his statement and fixed 12 March for further proceedings.
Adham Bin Amin testified that he was a ninth-grade student at Mirpur National Bangla High School during the July protests and actively participated in demonstrations at Mirpur-10 roundabout from 16 to 19 July.
On 19 July, he joined the protest around noon.
According to his account, members of the police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and activists of the then-ruling Awami League were positioned opposite the demonstrators in armed condition.
He alleged that security forces and ruling party activists obstructed the protest and carried out repeated attacks, including gunfire from helicopters. According to his testimony, local Awami League figures, including MP Nikhil and others known as ‘Banduk Aynal,’ Kochi, and Sacchu, were armed during the incident.
He told the tribunal that he was shot during the clashes. A bullet entered below his left knee, exited, and struck below his right knee, leaving him critically injured.
He was taken to hospital for treatment and now struggles to stand or walk normally.
“I want justice against those who shot me and made me disabled,” Adham said, adding that he is due to sit for his Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination this year but is unable to study properly.
“My dream was to become an army officer,” he told the court.
He also alleged that on 26 February, local Awami League activists assaulted him after he agreed to testify in the case, leaving him seriously injured.
