Many killed, injured in attack led by Shamim Osman on 5 Aug: Victim testifies at ICT
Kawsar, the fifth prosecution witness in the case over the killing of 10 people in Narayanganj, testified against 12 accused, including Shamim Osman.
A victim and also a witness has testified at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) that many people were killed and injured in an armed attack led by former Narayanganj MP Shamim Osman during the July Uprising.
Kawsar Ahmed, who was injured by a bullet in his left leg during the attack, gave testimony before a single-member bench of ICT-1, headed by Justice Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury, who recorded the deposition.
Kawsar, the fifth prosecution witness in the case over the killing of 10 people in Narayanganj, testified against 12 accused, including Shamim Osman.
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Kawsar, 51, is a resident of Narayanganj Sadar upazila and joint convenor of the Narayanganj city unit of the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal. The government has listed him in the "C" category of injured July fighters.
Kawsar said he left home around 9:30am on 5 August 2024 and reached Chashara intersection about 30 minutes later, where he joined the anti-discrimination movement.
Around 1:45pm, he said, 20-25 armed men attacked protesters in front of Shamim Osman's residence at Chashara.
Shamim Osman, his son Ayan Osman, nephew Azmeri Osman, Titu and others opened fire on protesters, he told the tribunal.
"One of the bullets hit my left leg, and I fell on the road," Kawsar said.
He said he could not identify who took him to Khanpur Hospital. However, he alleged that the former MP had instructed doctors not to provide him treatment there.
Later on 8 August, his bullet was extracted through surgery at a hospital in Dhaka, the witness said.
Kawsar said several others were also injured and a youth Sujan was killed on that day.
Describing Shamim Osman as the "godfather" of Narayanganj, Kawsar alleged that people were killed and injured under his leadership.
Following his deposition, state defence lawyers including Amir Hossain cross-examined him.
Prosecutors Zahirul Amin, Abdullah Al Noman and others represented the prosecution.
Absconding accused also include Ayan's brother-in-law Minhaj Uddin Ahmed Vicky, former Narayanganj Rifles Club president Tanvir Ahmed Titu, local journalist Raju Ahmed, former councillors Abdul Karim Babu and Kamrul Hasan Munna, former Narayanganj city Awami League joint secretary Shah Nizam Uddin Ahmed, Jubo League leader Shahadat Hossain Sajnu, and Chhatra League leaders Habibur Rahman Riyad and Sohanur Rahman Shubhra.
