Ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina- File Photo

DHAKA, August 3, 2025 (BSS) - A survivor of barbaric police shooting on the student-people in the city's Jatrabari area on July 19, 2024, today testified as the first prosecution witness (PW) against Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, in a case of crimes against humanity.

Khokon Chandro Barman, 23, a microbus driver by profession, who lost most of his face in the police firing on that day, narrated his ordeal at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1.

"I joined the student-people movement on July 18, 2024, in Signboard area in Narayanganj for the first time. On July 19, I along with many students and people tried to go towards Chashara from Bhuighar. As we came in front of BGB camp, we first fell under firing from police and BGB. One was shot on his chest and died on the spot. Many people were killed and others were injured on that day," Khokon said.

The witness said he got shot on August 5, when he along with thousands reached in front of Jatrabari Police Station.

"Around 12 to 12:30 pm, as we were chanting slogans in the area, police fired. A man in front of me was shot on his head. The bullet pierced through his head and hit another person standing beside him...Police came out of the police station and started firing indiscriminately. Many were shot; even I received pellets injuries on my hands and legs. As I hide myself behind a barrel kept there for transporting fish, one policeman came and fired at me from a close distance," he added.

The young witness said the shotgun fire blew up most of his face, leaving him barely conscious.

"As I came into sense, I was just moving my hands for someone to come and help me. As some people tried to rush me from there to hospital, I managed to unlock my mobile and they called my family with that. I was first taken to Mugda Medical College Hospital, but seeing the severity of my injury, they sent me to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Even I was sent to Mirpur Dental Hospital, where I received treatment for 10 days," he further said.

Khokon said he was later shifted to National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, where he was put on ICU for one month. "I underwent treatment for many days there and after that I was sent to Russia on February 21, 2025, by the government," he mentioned.

After his testimony, Advocate Amir Hossain, state appointed counsel for Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, cross-examined him. 

After that, the three-member tribunal headed by its Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder adjourned the hearing till tomorrow.

Earlier in the day, Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam submitted opening statement in the case. Before Tajul's submission, Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman addressed the tribunal and demanded justice over the monstrous crimes committed during July-August mass uprising.

The first tribunal on July 10 indicted the trio for the role in crimes against humanity committed during July-August mass uprising.

The ICT-1 on June 17 published notice in two national dailies, asking ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to surrender on June 24.

"...as per rules 31 of the International Crimes (Tribunal-1) Rules of Procedure 2010 (Amendment), 2025, they are hereby ordered to surrender at this tribunal on June 24, 2025. Otherwise, trial will be held in their absence as per section 10A of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973," the notice said.

As the two accused opted not to appear before the court in spite of court's notice, the tribunal on June 24 had set today to hold hearing on charge framing.

The tribunal on June 16 ordered the authorities concerned to publish notices on two national dailies, one in Bangla and another in English, asking the two fugitive convicts to give up before the court.

Earlier, the ICT-1 on June 1 took the formal charge, filed by the prosecution in the case, into cognizance and had set June 16 for passing further order in this connection. 

In line with that order, Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam on June 16 said, of the three accused, Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal are yet to be arrested and police learned from different sources that they are in India right now. 

The prosecution in the formal charge brought five charges against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.

The investigation agency of the ICT on May 12 filed its probe report in the crimes against humanity and mass killing case.