Crimes against humanity trial nears end: Final witness testifies against Hasina
As the 54th witness, the investigating officer will appear before International Crimes Tribunal-1
The trial over crimes against humanity committed during the student-people's anti-discrimination movement has reached a critical stage, with the chief investigation officer (IO) testifying as the last witness against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and another accused.
Md. Alamgir, the lead investigator, appeared before International Crimes Tribunal-1 today (28 September) as the 54th and final prosecution witness. The tribunal recorded his deposition at around 12:15pm.
Alamgir presented 17 video recordings to the court, depicting graphic scenes of violence during the July-August protests. The first video, from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, was followed by several others, including footage of Hasina's 14 July press conference, where she branded demonstrators as "descendants of razakars."
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Other evidence included videos of police brutality in Rangpur and Dhaka's Chankharpul area, as well as the harrowing 5 August incident in Ashulia, where six bodies were burned. The session concluded with a documentary on police killings in Dhaka's Jatrabari area the same day. Bangladesh Television broadcast the video presentations live.
Prosecutors Mizanul Islam and Gazi MH Tamim led the hearing, joined by Faruk Ahmed, Tanvir Hasan Zoha, and others.
Earlier, on 24 September, the tribunal concluded its 22nd day of testimony with special investigator and prosecutor Tanvir Hasan Zoha testifying. He was later cross-examined by state-appointed defence counsel Amir Hossain, representing Hasina and Kamal. Zoha had seized 69 audio clips and call detail records from three mobile numbers linked to Hasina, submitting three CDs containing five conversations that were later played before the tribunal.
On 23 September, three seizure-list witnesses testified, two of them from the tribunal's investigation agency. On 22 September, the 49th witness, Sabrina Afroz Sebonty—the sister of slain activist Mahmudur Rahman Soikot—testified, marking the close of fact witness accounts.
With the IO's deposition now complete, the tribunal will next hear closing arguments before moving toward a verdict.
Meanwhile, former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who turned state witness, was present in court. Witnesses testified in his presence, describing the July–August atrocities in chilling detail. Families of victims and eyewitnesses demanded exemplary punishment for Hasina, Kamal, and others held responsible.
