A father has testified before the International Crimes Tribunal-1 that his only son was killed when Awami League terrorists and police opened fire on peaceful student protesters during the July 2024 popular uprising in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area.
Shahidul Islam Bhuiyan, whose son Mohammad Farhanul Islam Bhuiyan alias Farhan Fayaz was killed, was the prosecution’s first witness in a case filed over the killing of nine people in Mohammadpur. Former minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak and former Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh are among 28 accused in the case.
“With police cooperation, the Awami League terrorist forces fired indiscriminately at students. At that time, a bullet entered the chest of my only son,” Bhuiyan told the tribunal on Wednesday.
He said his son was a student of Dhaka Residential Model College. On 18 July 2024, he left home and joined the anti-discrimination movement with friends, taking position at Dhanmondi-27 (Old) via Manik Mia Avenue.
“They were unarmed. They did not have any sticks. A bullet entered my son’s chest. Upon hearing the news, I almost lost my senses. The death certificate stated that Fayaz had died at the scene,” he said.
“I demand punishment for those responsible for my son’s death. Through those who were with Farhan in the movement, I have learned who committed this killing,” Bhuiyan said.
He named among those responsible: Taposh, Nanak, DMP’s then Commissioner Habibur Rahman, Additional DIG Proloy Kumar Joardar, Joint Commissioner Biplob Kumar Sarkar, Mohammadpur Zone ADC Roushanul Haque Saikat, Dhaka North Awami League President Sheikh Bazlur Rahman, Mohammadpur Thana Awami League President MA Sattar, Tofail Ahmed, Mohammad Ismail Hossain, Syed Hasan Noor Rashtran, Ismail Hossain, Md. Masudur Rahman Biplob, Fazle Rabbi, Ahad, and 5-7 unidentified others.
On 10 May, the tribunal framed charges in the case, with three charges brought against the accused. Among the accused, arrested individuals include banned Chhatra League’s Mohammadpur Thana branch President Naeemul Hassan Russell, Vice-President Sajjad Hossain, Omar Faruk, and Fazle Rabbi.
On 18 January, the court issued arrest warrants against absconding accused after taking cognizance of the prosecution’s charges.
According to prosecution sources, on 18 and 19 July 2024, Awami League, Chhatra League, and law enforcement agencies committed atrocities during the mass movement, firing on innocent students and the public, resulting in nine martyrs including Mahmudur Rahman Saikat. There are 50 witnesses in the case.
