Witness Md Zakir Hossain has delivered his remaining testimony at the International Crimes Tribunal-1 against Workers Party of Bangladesh President Rashed Khan Menon and Awami League Presidium Member Kamrul Islam.
Giving evidence on Wednesday, following a partial deposition on 6 September, Zakir was cross-examined in a case concerning crimes against humanity committed during July mass uprising, after recounting details of security forces opening fire on protesters, house-to-house searches, and widespread attacks.
Curfew decision and Dhaka violence
Recounting the initial outbreak of violence, Zakir stated that at around 7pm on 19 July 2024, his family phoned to inform him that his elder son, Rezaul Karim Reza, had been shot in the leg while participating in the movement in the Nilkhet area.
Around the same time, he learnt that a businessman named Abdul Wadud was shot dead at Gate No 2 of New Market, whilst another protester was killed at the gate of the Azimpur Staff Quarters.
While accompanying his friend Khalilur, Zakir also learnt that six to seven people were killed in the Badda and Rampura areas between Juma prayers and evening that day, including 11-year-old child Tamim Sikdar, and he personally saw several shot protesters lying in the area.
Regarding the official orders behind the crackdown, Zakir testified that Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader gave a press briefing following a 14-Party Alliance meeting to announce the decision to impose a curfew and issue shoot-on-sight orders.
He claimed that top 14-Party Alliance leader Rashed Khan Menon was present beside Obaidul Quader at the briefing, whilst Kamrul Islam had also attended the meeting.
From the morning of 20 July, personnel from RAB, Police, BGB, Chhatra League, and Jubo League initiated house-to-house searches across the Dhaka South City Corporation area.
Zakir alleged that protesting students were beaten up, handed over to law enforcement agencies, had their books burnt, and were robbed of money by members of the Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League, adding that security forces also searched his own residence.
Escaping attacks, unrest in Chattogram
As authorities began searching for him, Zakir fled to Chattogram on 24 July, but returned to Dhaka on 26 July after police and Awami League supporters attacked his village home in Satkania.
On the night of 2 August, local Awami League men surrounded his home in Azimpur, forcing him to escape by jumping from roof to roof before fleeing to Chattogram again early the next morning, where Awami League and Chhatra League members launched a further attack on his Satkania home that night.
On 4 August, Zakir participated in the movement in the New Market area of Chattogram alongside lawyers and fellow protesters.
At approximately 11am, AKM Nurullah, a law student of Chattogram Islamic University standing beside him, was shot and injured by Police, Jubo League, and Chhatra League members.
Nurullah suffered numerous bullet wounds extending from his waist to his legs, with a bullet striking his thigh and tearing the flesh; Zakir assisted in funding medical treatment for the impoverished student, who is now permanently disabled.
Zakir testified that he saw weapons in the hands of Chhatra League and Jubo League members at the time, claiming he recognised many of them.
He added that “thousands” of protesters and ordinary businessmen were killed and injured in gunfire by the Awami League and Police across various areas of Chattogram, including Anderkilla, Bokshirhat, Chattogram Court area, New Market, Sholashahar, and WASA Intersection, with three of his own employees injured by shotgun pellets.
On the night of 4 August, he returned to Dhaka after changing vehicles eight to nine times.
March to Gonobhaban, friend’s rescue
On the morning of 5 August, Zakir set off from the Azimpur-New Market area after 11am with relatives and acquaintances to join the march to surround Gonobhaban.
He claimed that extensive torture and firing were carried out on protesters in the Chankharpul, Shaheed Minar, and Dhaka University areas earlier that morning, resulting in numerous casualties.
After encountering obstacles along the way, his group learnt at around 1pm that Sheikh Hasina was fleeing, after which they joined the victory procession at Gonobhaban.
At around 3pm that afternoon, Khalilur Rahman called Zakir to inform him that he and others were surrounded by police, BGB, and Awami League men in the Rampura-Badda area, warning that they could be killed at any moment and seeking his help for rescue.
Zakir reached Badda at around 5pm and found Khalilur in an alley opposite BRAC University with over 700 bullet marks on his body.
Khalilur was taken to a nearby house, sent to hospital, spent five months undergoing medical treatment in Thailand with government assistance, and has been left permanently disabled.
Concluding his testimony, Zakir stated that media reports revealed indiscriminate firing on protesters had been carried out on the instructions of Sheikh Hasina and on the ill advice of top 14-Party Alliance leaders.
According to his statement, Obaidul Quader, Rashed Khan Menon, and Kamrul Islam were key advisers to Sheikh Hasina and gave the shoot orders, leading Zakir Hossain to demand the maximum legal penalty for Menon, Kamrul, and others involved.
