41 districts out of 64 witnessed killings during July Uprising: IO

Law enforcement agencies and armed cadres of the then ruling Awami League engaged in a killing spree that was spread across 438 locations in 41 of the 64 districts in the country during the student-led uprising in July-August 2024, according to the investigation officer (IO) in a case alleging crimes against humanity against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and others at the International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) on Tuesday.

Mohammad Alamgir as the IO was testifying for the third straight day this week- the 54th witness in the case against Hasina, her home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who followed her into a life of exile in India, and her chief of police, ex-IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, who has turned approver for the state to help the tribunal, and possibly gain a softer sentence in the bargain.

The IO today wrapped up his testimony before the full three-member tribunal led by Chairman Justice Golam Mortuza Mazumder.

Alamgir said in his statement that in addition to killings, lethal weapons were used against protesters in more than 50 districts during the uprising.

Police fired over 300,000 rounds of ammunition - 305, 311 to be precise - during the uprising, the IO also said, with almost one-third -95,313 rounds - reportedly fired in the capital city of Dhaka alone. The numbers revealed by Alamgir do not include the BGB or Army's figures.

He testified that the AL’s actions during the 2024 movement, including abductions, killings, assaults, and torture, were aimed at 'clinging to power'.

He also said that over the previous 15 years, successive AL governments engaged in extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, rigged elections, and other coercive measures to suppress opposition and retain power. As a result, people from all walks of life participated in the 2024 student uprising.

Parts of Alamgir’s testimony were broadcast live on BTV. Videos previously aired by BBC and Al Jazeera documenting atrocities during the July 2024 movement were also presented as evidence in the tribunal.

Earlier, several relatives of martyred protesters, including the father of Shaheed Abu Sayed, had testified in the trial.

Other notable witnesses included Nahid Islam, convenor of National Citizens’ Party and one of the coordinators who led with the spirit the July uprising, and Dr. Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the daily Amar Desh.

The prosecution team in the case comprised Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam, Mizanul Islam, and Gazi SH Tamim.

Lawyers representing the absconding accused Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal include state-appointed lawyer Amir Hossain, while former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, now a state witness, is represented by Zayed Bin Amzad.

The tribunal formally indicted Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and ex-IGP Chowdhury Mamun on July 10, following which hearings began.

Chowdhury Mamun later applied to become an approver, confessing to the crimes to assist the tribunal, and has since testified.

Besides this case, Sheikh Hasina faces two other cases at the tribunal: one concerning enforced disappearances and killings over her 15-and-a-half-year rule, and another over killings during a Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar, reports UNB.