Most of 167 uprising victims admitted at neurosciences hospital had shattered skulls, doctor tells ICT
Dr Mahfuzur Rahman has urged the tribunal to award the death sentence to Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Obaidul Quader, and Mohammad A Arafat.
A total of 167 people severely injured during the mass uprising in July-August last year were admitted to the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital (NINSH) in Dhaka, most of them with shattered skulls, a doctor of the hospital told the International Crimes Tribunal-1 today (20 August).
"While 575 patients wounded by bullets and pellets were treated, only 167 could be admitted due to a shortage of beds," Dr Mahfuzur Rahman, an associate professor at NINSH, told the tribunal.
"Four people were brought dead, while 29 died undergoing treatment. Seven were sent to Thailand for advanced care," he added.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Dr Mahfuzur urged the tribunal to award the death sentence to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and three others while testifying as the 13th prosecution witness in a case filed over crimes against humanity committed during last year's mass uprising.
The three others are former home affairs minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader, and former state minister for information and broadcasting Mohammad A Arafat.
Dr Mahfuzur said he performed at least 33 surgeries on the injured and removed numerous bullets and pellets from the patients' bodies.
He alleged that members of the police's Detective Branch (DB) had threatened him for providing treatment to gunshot victims during the anti-discrimination movement in July, which turned into the mass uprising that toppled the Awami League government.
The physician said that on 19 July, as the number of casualties increased, DB officers came and pressured the hospital's staff not to admit further gunshot victims.
"DB personnel warned, 'Do not be overzealous. You will get into trouble. Do not release those already admitted. There are instructions from above, and legal action will be taken against them.' To circumvent the restrictions, the admission register was altered, recording gunshot injuries as road accidents or other causes," he said.
Dr Mahfuzur's deposition started at 11:25am and was followed by cross-examination from state-appointed defence counsel Amir Hossain, who is representing Hasina and Kamal.
Later, Shahanaz Parveen, a senior staff nurse from the same hospital, also testified as a prosecution witness before the tribunal.
So far, 14 witnesses have testified in the case.
