How 'core committee' decided to detain SAD coordinators during July Uprising, Ex-IGP Mamun testifies
Ex-DB Harun carried out arrests, ex-home minister Asaduzzaman referred to Harun as ‘genie’ for implementing directives effectively, Mamun says
Highlights:
- Ex-IGP says SAD coordinators were arrested on a core committee order led by ex-home minister
- Coordinators were coerced in custody to quit the movement
- Asaduzzaman dubbed Harun 'the genie' for swiftly enforcing govt decisions
Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun has stated in his deposition that the coordinators of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) were arrested following a decision taken at a core committee meeting.
Abdullah Al Mamun today (2 September) while testifying as a state witness in a crimes against humanity case against Sheikh Hasina and two others.
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In his deposition, Al-Mamun said that after the movement began in July 2024, the army was deployed across the country.
"From 19 July, core committee meetings were held almost every night at the residence of then home minister Asaduzzaman Khan in Dhanmondi. During these meetings, directives were given on suppressing the movement and other instructions on behalf of the government," he said.
He added that the core committee included himself, then home secretary Jahangir Alam, additional secretaries Tipu Sultan and Reza Mostofa, head of the Police Special Branch Monirul Islam, DMP's DB chief Mohammad Harun Rashid, RAB director general Harun or Rashid, DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, BGB director general Major General Mohammad Ashrafuljaman Siddiqui, then director general of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Major General AKM Aminul Haque, NTMC director general Major General Ziaul Ahsan, and heads of DGFI and NSI.
"At one of these core committee meetings, it was decided to arrest the student coordinators," Mamun said.
The proposal was made by DGFI, Mamun continued, saying, "I initially opposed it, but under the instruction of the home minister, I agreed."
The responsibility for the arrests was assigned to former DB chief Harun, he said. "Following the home minister's decision, the DGFI and DB carried out the arrests, with the coordinators being taken into DB custody."
Al-Mamun further stated that the coordinators were brought to DB headquarters and pressured to negotiate with the government. Their relatives were also brought to the DB to exert pressure.
"The coordinators were forced to withdraw from the movement and issue statements on television," he said, adding that former DB chief Harun played a leading role in this process.
He also revealed that the then home minister Asaduzzaman used to refer to Harun as 'the genie' for his ability to implement any government decision effectively.
