‘Hasina has fled, why are you still shooting?’: Witness recounts Ashulia police firing at ICT

A witness before the International Crimes Tribunal today (30 October) described how police continued firing indiscriminately on protesters in Ashulia, even after being told that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina had fled the country on 5 August last year. 

On that day, as news spread of Hasina's departure, a victory procession in Ashulia's Baipal area quickly turned into bloodshed. 

"We were chanting in victory when the police suddenly opened fire from Chinese rifles," said 29-year-old Sunny Mridha, who was shot through both legs. 

He said, "We kept shouting, 'Hasina has fled, why are you still shooting?' But the police kept firing indiscriminately."

Sunny, who still carries shrapnel in his body and wears a leg brace, gave his testimony before ICT-2 today. It was the 16th day of hearings in a case of crimes against humanity involving the killing of seven people and the burning of six bodies in Ashulia on 5 August 2024.

He testified as the 21st witness in the case against 16 accused, including former MP Saiful Islam. The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, recorded his statement as Sunny showed his injuries in court.

Describing the events of that day, Sunny said he had joined the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and was participating in the victory procession after learning that Hasina had fled between 2pm and 2:30pm. 

"As we approached the Ashulia Police Station, shots rang out from that direction. The police retreated into an alley and continued firing. A bullet pierced through both my legs, and shotgun pellets hit my hands and body. Seventeen pellets were removed, but one remains stuck in my right elbow," he said.

He added that one of the victims was his acquaintance, Sajal, whom he later saw in a Facebook video being loaded into a police van in front of Ashulia Police Station. "He was later burned along with others," Sunny said.

After Sunny's deposition, he was cross-examined by state-appointed lawyer representing eight absconding accused. 
Prosecutor Farooq Ahmed appeared for the state, assisted by Abdus Sobhan Tarafdar and Abdus Sattar Palowan.

Eight of the accused, including former Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Ops) Md Abdullahil Kafi, former ASP (Savar Circle) Md Shahidul Islam, Inspector Arafat Hossain, SI Malek, SI Arafat Uddin, ASI Kamrul Hasan, Abzal, and Constable Mukul, were produced before the tribunal from jail. Eight others, including former MP Saiful Islam, remain absconding.

So far, 21 witnesses have testified in the case. 

ICT-2 has fixed 5 November as the next date for recording further testimony.