Hanif ordered deadly crackdown on protesters in Kushtia, witness tells ICT
The witness, a 31-year-old coordinator whose identity was withheld for security reasons, made the allegations while testifying as the fifth witness in a crimes against humanity case over the killing of six people in Kushtia during the July uprising. Tribunal-2 recorded his testimony on Wednesday (7 January).
A witness has told the International Crimes Tribunal that Mahbubul Alam Hanif, joint general secretary of the now-banned Awami League (AL), instructed party leaders and activists to kill protesters if necessary to suppress the mass movement in Kushtia.
The witness, a 31-year-old coordinator whose identity was withheld for security reasons, made the allegations while testifying as the fifth witness in a crimes against humanity case over the killing of six people in Kushtia during the July uprising. Tribunal-2 recorded his testimony on Wednesday (7 January).
According to the witness, Hanif also issued instructions by phone to ensure that injured protesters were denied treatment at government hospitals. He alleged that activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) forced injured protesters to vacate their beds.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Four people have been named as accused in the case: Mahbubul Alam Hanif; Sadar Uddin Khan, president of the Kushtia district Awami League; Azgar Ali, its general secretary; and Ataur Rahman Ata, general secretary of the Kushtia city Awami League.
In his testimony, the witness said a meeting of 12 coordinators was held on the night of 12 July 2024, after which a small procession was brought out under the banner of the quota reform movement. A larger daytime procession was later announced via Facebook and held on 18 July, starting from Saddam Bazar and proceeding towards Chourhas intersection.
The witness claimed the procession came under attack by armed BCL activists, leaving several student protesters injured and forcing the march to disperse. When he attempted to arrange medical treatment for the injured at a hospital, BCL activists allegedly obstructed the process, forcing protesters to receive primary treatment under assumed names.
He told the tribunal that the AL and BCL activists did not allow student protesters to gather on the streets of Kushtia, even in small numbers, and that sudden attacks prevented the movement from gaining momentum in the district. On 27 July, AL leaders held a rally at the party office at Bangabandhu Super Market, attended by Azgar Ali, Ataur Rahman Ata and Sadar Uddin Khan. The rally, he said, was organised following Hanif's instructions, with speakers declaring that the movement would not be allowed in Kushtia and issuing threats of serious consequences.
The witness said that amid a nationwide internet shutdown, organisers held meetings at night and formed a WhatsApp group with 86 members. A procession was called on 3 August, beginning in front of Kushtia Sadar Hospital and drawing several thousand people as it moved through key intersections before ending at Majampur.
Another procession followed on 4 August, with people coming from various upazilas. The witness described the use of tear-gas by law enforcement from armoured vehicles, followed by attacks by AL and BCL activists, leaving several protesters seriously injured.
He further alleged that on 5 August, armed party activists and police launched coordinated attacks on protesters on Hanif's instructions, resulting in six deaths and injuries to hundreds. Among those killed was a minor aged around 14–15, he said.
After the testimony, the witness was cross-examined by state defence lawyer Md Amir Hossain, appointed by the government for the absconding accused. Faruk Ahammad represented the prosecution. The tribunal set 21 January as the next date for further witness testimony.
