Police shot dead Hridoy even after Hasina fled, witness tells tribunal

A witness has told the International Crimes Tribunal that police shot dead a youth named Hridoy during a victory procession in Gazipur's Konabari on 5 August last year, hours after Sheikh Hasina fled the country, and later disposed of the body.

Testifying as the 38th prosecution witness yesterday, Sohel Mahmud, a resident of Konabari, described how police opened fire on the procession of students and residents, killing Hridoy.

He alleged that police removed the body the following day, leaving the family without a chance for burial. 

His deposition was recorded by International Crimes Tribunal-1, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumdar.

In his testimony, Mahmud said, "On the morning of 5 August 2024, I went to join the student-led movement near Sharif Medical, close to my home. That day there was a curfew, and also the March to Dhaka programme. By noon I returned home. While at home, I learned that Hasina had fled. I went back to Sharif Medical and saw thousands of people coming with a victory procession. From the opposite side, police began firing tear shells and bullets at the marchers. The procession was broken up."

He continued: "At that time, some people, including myself, took shelter at my house. Some others sought refuge in the rickshaw garage of my brother-in-law, Hafizur Rahman Tapon, next door. From the roof, I saw them. Police picked up one of the men from the garage and took him to the graveyard near my home, where they shot him. He died instantly. Police immediately took his body to the station. The officer-in-charge Ashraf and a detective branch officer were present. Later I came to know that the shooter was constable Akram, and the man killed was Hridoy."

The witness further said that the following day, 6 August 2024, Police took Hridoy's body from the station and disposed of it.

The witness held former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, several ministers, police officials and Awami League leaders responsible for the killing, demanding justice for what he described as a crime against humanity.
After his deposition, state-appointed defence lawyer Md Amir Hossain, representing fugitive accused Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, cross-examined him.

The tribunal began recording testimony in the case from around 11:30am. Earlier, Mohammad Hasan of Chattogram had testified as the 37th witness. 

Former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who has turned state witness after being an accused in the case, was also produced before the tribunal today (8 September).