‘My son was still alive’: Father of July martyr Maruf testifies at ICT-1

Md Idris, father of slain student Maruf, tearfully testified before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 yesterday, recounting how law enforcers shot his son during the July uprising and blocked his ambulance on the way to the hospital.

The tribunal, hearing its eighth day of witness testimony in the case of crimes against humanity during the July uprising, is examining three accused, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Idris, 44, a street vendor, appeared as the 22nd witness before the three-member ICT-1, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder.

In his testimony, Idris said, "Maruf was my eldest son and a 12th-grade student at Ekota Degree College in Kazirhat, Barishal. I wanted to see him well educated, but now that dream will never come true."

He described the events of 19 July, saying, "Around 9:30am, my son joined the movement with his maternal uncle Foisal Ahmed in Dhaka's Badda area. After Jummah prayers, they returned home, ate lunch, and went back to join the protest around 3:30pm. Soon after, Foisal phoned me saying that police, BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh), and Chhatra League activists were firing on protesters near Rampura Bridge."

Idris added, "Around 5:45pm, Foisal informed me that Maruf was shot in front of BRAC University. He was first taken to AMZ Hospital in Badda, where doctors advised transferring him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). On the way, police and BGB, along with Chhatra League activists, stopped the ambulance for 15–20 minutes. One Chhatra League leader even said, 'He is dead. There's no need to take him to the hospital. Take him home.'

"At that time, Maruf was still alive, his wound wrapped in a towel and oxygen being given. A police officer jabbed the wound with a rifle butt, causing him to writhe in pain, before the ambulance was allowed to move. It reached DMCH around 6:45pm, but at 7:20pm, doctors declared him dead."

Idris also described difficulties in receiving his son's body, saying, "When I asked for the body, DMCH initially refused to release it without an autopsy. The post-mortem was delayed because of police obstruction, and the then officer-in-charge of Badda police station even denied that the shooting happened in his area. 

"I begged him desperately, but it made no difference. The body was finally handed over on 21 July and buried at East Badda graveyard."

He held former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun responsible as masterminds. 

Idris demanded justice against those directly involved, including former MP Wakil Uddin, local councillors Jahangir and Taposh, the officer-in-charge of Rampura police station, and BGB personnel Redwan."