Intelligence officers dictated TV scrolls during July Uprising: Hasnat Abdullah

Intelligence officers instructed television channels on what to broadcast during the July Uprising, National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Organiser (South) Hasnat Abdullah told the International Crimes Tribunal-2 today (9 December).

Hasnat testified as a witness before the Tribunal in the case over the killing of Begum Rokeya University (BRUR) student Abu Sayed in Rangpur on 16 July 2024.

"Sitting right in front of us, they would dictate the scroll, and the TV channels would broadcast the same message," he said.

Hasnat, one of the key coordinators of the anti-discrimination students' movement, said he and other coordinators were picked up by law enforcement a day after Abu Sayed's killing.

During their captivity, he claimed to have witnessed officers dictating the news carried by several television channels.

He said that several television channels, including "Somoy TV, DBC News, and Ekattor TV, played a dirty role" during the movement. He informed the Tribunal that, "We were kept confined in a 'safe house' in Kakrail, Dhaka, during the movement."

Speaking at a press briefing during the Tribunal recess after the first part of his testimony was recorded, Hasnat briefed the media on his accounts of the events of 16 July 2024.

"On that day, Abu Sayed was shot and killed in Rangpur. The Chhatra League killed Wasim in Chattogram. Six students were martyred on the same day," he said.

He said intelligence officials pressured them the next day, 17 July 2024, when they attempted to hold a gayebana janaza (funeral prayer in absentia) in reaction to the killings.

"That same night, we were picked up from our houses and taken to the State Guest House Padma. They tried to persuade us in various ways to withdraw the programme. But we rejected a meeting with the ministers. After one hour, three ministers walked out right in front of us."

Hasnat said that after the failed attempt to arrange a meeting, they were taken to a "safe house" located between Matsya Bhaban and the International Mother Language Institute.

"There is a room that looks abandoned from the outside. But inside, it has modern management facilities. The place is called a safe house in the language of law enforcement agencies," he added.

He said they were interrogated throughout the night. "We were pressured to sit for a meeting. Our families were held hostage and harassed by the Chhatra League."

He added, "That morning, an agency member threatened us, saying that if we held a meeting and announced to the whole country that we had withdrawn the movement, they would 'settle our lives'. But we did not agree."

The Tribunal began recording Hasnat Abdullah's testimony at 11:15am. A recess was announced at 1:30pm, after which he held the press briefing. He was scheduled to continue his testimony at 2:30pm.

Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim conducted the hearing for the prosecution. Prosecutors Moinul Karim and Abdus Sattar Palwan were also present. There are 30 accused in the case, including former BRUR vice-chancellor Hasibur Rashid.

Hasnat is the 22nd witness in the case, in which the prosecution has listed around 30-35 witnesses.