Refused to fire on protesters despite orders

Two police officials yesterday told the International Crimes Tribunal-1 that they had defied direct orders to open fire on unarmed student protesters during last year's July uprising, saying they believed every bullet would mean a life lost.

Testifying as prosecution witnesses, Ajay Ghosh and Naik Abdur Rahman, constables of the Armed Police Battalion (APBn), recounted how superior officers repeatedly instructed them and others to use lethal weapons against protesters in Dhaka's Chankharpul area on August 5, 2024. At least six students were killed there that day.

Ajay said that when then additional deputy commissioner (ADC) Shah Alam Md Akhtarul Islam ordered him to fire on crowds, he hesitated.

The ADC then verbally abused him, snatched his Chinese rifle with 40 rounds of ammunition, and handed it to constable Sujan Hossain, who opened fire along with constables Imaz Hossain Imon and Nasirul Islam.

"I saw students collapsing under gunfire at Nabab Katra, Bakshi Bazar, Mayor Hanif Flyover and nearby roads. Later, I heard six to seven had been killed," he told the tribunal.

He added that Sujan later surrendered the rifle with only 18 bullets left at Shahbagh Police Station.

Abdur Rahman, who led a 20-member APBn team, said that when they arrived at Shahbagh Police Station around 5:00am that day, they learned that former Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Habibur Rahman and joint commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty had visited and ordered the use of "excessive force" to stop the "March to Dhaka" programme.

Later, he said, ADC Akhtarul, in the presence of then assistant commissioner Imrul and inspector Arshad Hossain, again told police to use "excessive force and open fire".

The team moved to Central Shaheed Minar where sound grenades, tear shells, and blank shots were used to disperse protesters.

By 10:30am, the force was deployed to Chankharpul, where several thousand protesters were attempting to march towards Shahbagh.

When some policemen refused to open fire, ADC Akhtarul shouted: "You take government salaries and rations -- why won't you fire?"

Later, constables Sujan (with Ajay's rifle), Nasirul and Imaz opened fire on protesters using Chinese rifles. "I stood there and witnessed the firing. Many were hit," Abdur Rahman told the court.

Both witnesses identified the four accused -- inspector Arshad and constables Sujan, Nasirul and Imaz -- who were in the dock.

Another prosecution witness Jagannath University student Saurav Ahmed described to the court how his fellow protester Shahriar Khan Anas was shot in the chest. He had rushed Anas to Mitford Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Anas's parents and grandfather later identified the body.

"I demand the trial of Sheikh Hasina, the police officers who gave the orders to fire, and also those who pulled the triggers."

Defence counsels for Arshad, Sujan, Nasirul, Imaz and the state-defence counsel representing four absconding accused -- ex-DMP commissioner Habibur, joint commissioner Sudip, former ADC Akhtarul and ex-AC Imrul -- cross-examined the two policemen who testified.

All the defence counsels said the allegations brought against their clients were "unfounded".

Meanwhile, following a prosecution application, the tribunal extended the date for submission of probe reports in six cases over crimes against humanity committed during the uprising.

Besides, the tribunal allowed the ICT investigation agency to interrogate Major Gen (forced retired) Ziaul Ahsan in connection with the enforced disappearance of BNP leader Ilias Ali.