Chankharpul killings: Martyred Anas’s mother testifies as 9th witness against ex-DMP Habibur, 7 others

Sanjida Khan Dipti, mother of martyred Shahriyar Khan Anas, appeared today (7 September), as the ninth prosecution witness in a crimes against humanity case before International Crimes Tribunal-1 against former commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Habibur Rahman and seven others, who are accused of killing six people at Chankharpul during the July Uprising.

She demanded the death penalty for those responsible.

Testifying before the three-member judicial panel led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, Dipti said the killings on 5 August 2024 were orchestrated by then DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, former joint commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, and former additional deputy commissioner of Ramna Division Shah Alam Md Akhtarul Islam.

Acting on their orders, former assistant commissioner Mohammad Imrul, along with former Shahbagh Police Station officer-in-charge (Operations) Md Arshad Hossain, Constable Md Sujon Mia, Md Imaaz Hossain Emon, and Md Nasirul Islam, opened fire indiscriminately; today, police produced the latter four from prison before the tribunal.

"They fired so brutally that no one was meant to survive. Their bullets martyred my son Anas along with five others at Chankharpul," she said.

She further alleged that the orders had come from ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former minister Obaidul Quader, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.

"I demand justice for these killings — I want the death penalty for all of the accused," she told the tribunal.

Dipti recounted that Anas left their rented home in Gendaria, Dhaka, that morning after writing a note, "Mother, I am going to the procession. If I do not return, be proud."

By noon, news of his death reached the family. She described collecting his bloodied body from Mitford Hospital, taking it home by rickshaw alongside his father and maternal grandfather, and the grief of local residents staging a procession demanding justice.

Anas was later buried at Dhupkhola field as a martyr, on the advice of local clerics.

Quoting protesters Rabbi and Saurav, the witness said that at around 10:30am, Anas was heading towards the Central Shaheed Minar along with thousands of other demonstrators.

But at Chankharpul they were obstructed by police and other law enforcement agencies. At that time, police and RAB opened fire.

To save their lives, the protesters scattered into nearby alleys, including Nawab Katra. Anas was among them. At one point, a police officer fired directly at him. The bullet struck his chest, and he collapsed instantly.

Fellow protesters rushed him to hospital by rickshaw, the only available transport at the time.