A private university student, Md Sakib Ahammed Tulon, has testified before the International Crimes Tribunal-1 against Bangladesh Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon and Awami League Presidium Member Kamrul Islam.
The testimony concerns allegations of crimes against humanity committed during the July-August mass uprising of 2024. On Monday, the tribunal recorded Tulon’s deposition, after which he was cross-examined by defence counsel Abul Hasan.
The prosecution has brought three charges alleging that Menon and Kamrul incited violence to keep Sheikh Hasina’s government in power.
From their influential positions in the Awami League government and the 14-party alliance, they allegedly provoked the deployment of lethal weapons and the imposition of a curfew against unarmed students and the public.
The prosecution claims their continuous conspiracy led to shootings in several areas of the capital, including Badda, connecting them to two incidents of crimes against humanity and the killing of 23 people in and around Badda.
Both political figures have been in prison since their arrest following the fall of Awami League government on 5 August 2024.
Peaceful demonstrations met with shotgun pellets
In his testimony, Tulon stated that he joined the protest on 18 July 2024, demonstrating at Badda Post Office Road and in front of BRAC University. He noted that the peaceful demonstrations were met with heavy police resistance, as officers fired tear gas and shotgun pellets, injuring many.
After returning home in the afternoon, Tulon learned from media reports that a student had been killed in police firing near BRAC University.
The following day, 19 July, after Friday’s Jummah prayers, Tulon, along with Maruf, Maruf’s maternal uncle Faisal, and Rajib, joined a procession in front of BRAC University. Tulon testified that he saw police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel firing at people moving towards Rampura Bridge.
He observed five dead bodies with gunshot wounds near the barricaded bridge.
Between the Asr and Maghrib prayers, a loud gunshot echoed from the direction of Rampura Bridge, and Tulon saw Maruf collapse onto the footpath. At first, Tulon thought Maruf had fallen due to the pushing and shoving of the crowd, but he subsequently noticed that Maruf had been shot in the right side of his lower abdomen.
“Mama, I have been shot, save me,” Maruf pleaded before losing consciousness.
Obstructions and loss of life
Maruf was placed in an ambulance to be rushed to hospital, bleeding heavily as Tulon pressed on the wound to stop the bleeding. Following primary treatment, medical staff advised them to take Maruf to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
However, the ambulance was stopped by police and BGB members near Rampura Bridge, causing a critical delay of approximately half an hour.
During this delay, Maruf’s condition worsened significantly. Although the ambulance was eventually allowed to proceed, Maruf passed away in Tulon’s left arm before they could reach Shantinagar Bridge, shortly after passing Abul Hotel.
Ordeal at the hospital
Upon arriving at the DMCH emergency department, Tulon saw numerous bullet-hit bodies and injured victims. A doctor examined Maruf and declared him dead, which was confirmed by an electrocardiogram (ECG) before his body was sent to the morgue.
Tulon testified that despite wanting to claim the body after the post-mortem, hospital authorities refused to release it, stating they had “orders from above” that no bodies were to leave the hospital.
Around midnight, leaving Maruf’s father at the hospital, Tulon and others headed home. It was then that they learned a countrywide curfew had been declared.
While travelling by rickshaw past the Shilpakala Academy towards Ramna Police Station, they were stopped by police and BGB personnel. Tulon recalled hearing one of the security personnel say, “Sir, shall I shoot them?”
Although this caused severe panic, another officer ordered their release.
Curfew and massacre accusations
Tulon later learned from media reports that Sheikh Hasina, Rashed Khan Menon, and Kamrul Islam had attended a high-level meeting at Ganabhaban on 19 July. The reports indicated that the curfew was imposed on their advice, which was followed by widespread firing on students and the public.
Tulon subsequently found out that 23 people, including Maruf, were killed in Badda and surrounding areas, and that approximately 1,400 people lost their lives across Bangladesh between 19 July and 5 August.
Concluding his testimony, Tulon demanded exemplary punishment for those whose instructions and advice led to the curfew and the subsequent violence.
