Ex-DMP chief Habibur ordered officers to shoot protesters: ICT hears audio clip
ASI Kamrul Hasan, a wireless operator at the DMP’s Crime Command and Control Centre during the July movement, testified as the 50th witness against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and other accused today
Highlights:
- Audio of Habibur giving shoot orders played at ICT-1
- Shoot order was given despite no immediate threat in Dhaka
- ASI Kamrul Hasan testified as the 50th witness against ousted PM Sheikh Hasina and others
- Former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun was present during witness statements
Former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman explicitly instructed his officers to use maximum force during the July-August movement last year, including ordering them to shoot the protesters to control the situation.
An audio clip of Habibur making such order was played at the International Crimes Tribunal-1 today (23 September).
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
ASI Kamrul Hasan, a wireless operator at the DMP's Crime Command and Control Centre during the July movement, testified as the 50th witness against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and another accused in the crimes against humanity case.
Kamrul played the wireless message in which Habibur Rahman said, "I have repeatedly said, instructed, given you freedom to act as the situation dictates…You will take a kneeling position and shoot below the waist to control the situation."
Audio clip of ex-DMP commissioner Habibur ordering police to shoot protesters submitted to ICT
Kamrul testified that the order to shoot was given even though there was no immediate threat in Dhaka at the time.
He described that officers were told they could use maximum force to protect lives, property, offices, and courts.
The tribunal also heard testimony from other witnesses, including Md Kamrul Hossain and Anisur Rahman, in addition to the earlier testimony of Sabrina Afroz Sebanti, completing the prosecution's testimony on the incident.
Cross-examination of witnesses was conducted by the defence, and the tribunal is now set to move toward arguments and verdict.
Meanwhile, former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, an accused in the crimes against humanity case who has also testified as a state witness, was present at the tribunal while other witnesses delivered their statements in his presence.
