Ex-IGP Mamun describes final hours of AL govt, how he fled Police HQ
Former inspector general of police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, now a state witness, has revealed dramatic details of the final hours of the Awami League government — from secret planning meetings at Ganabhaban to his own flight from police headquarters by army helicopter.
He also stated the plans to stop the 5 August "March to Dhaka" programme were drawn up at Ganabhaban the night before.
Testifying as the 36th witness in the crimes against humanity case against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and ex-home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Mamun told Tribunal-1 today that an army helicopter landed at police headquarters and took him to Tejgaon airport helipad, then to the officers' mess in Dhaka cantonment after fled the country on 5 August last year. With him were SB chief Monirul, former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, and DIG Amena.
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On 5 August morning, Mamun went to his office at police headquarters. Soon after, he learned that crowds of students and ordinary people were streaming into Dhaka from Uttara, Jatrabari, and other routes.
"Between noon and 1pm, I heard that the prime minister would step down," Mamun testified. "But we did not know where she would go."
By afternoon, an army helicopter escorted him to the cantonment. In the next phase, other senior officers, including Additional DIG Proloy and Additional IGP Lutful Kabir, were also flown in.
Planning at Ganabhaban
On 4 August 2024, at 11am, a meeting of the security coordination committee was held at Ganabhaban under Sheikh Hasina's leadership. Former law minister Anisul Huq, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, the chiefs of the three services, SB chief Monirul Islam, and DGFI and NSI heads were among 27 officials present.
The meeting discussed suppressing and controlling the movement, but was adjourned as the situation outside worsened. That same night, Mamun and other top officials were again called to Ganabhaban, where Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana were present. The meeting resolved that police and the army would coordinate to block the march, and later at the army operations control room it was decided to take up strong positions at city entry points.
