NCP Convener Nahid Islam -File Photo

Dhaka, Sept 17, 2025 (BSS) – Nahid Islam, convenor of National Citizen Party (NCP) and a key leader of the July Uprising, said in International Crimes Tribunal today that student across Bangladesh felt deeply insulted when ousted  Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina branded them as “Children And Grandchildren of Razakars” during last year’s student movement.

Testifying as the 47th prosecution witness in the case against Sheikh Hasina and two others for crimes against humanity committed during the July–August 2024 mass uprising, Nahid recalled that the former prime minister’s remarks had   triggered nationwide protests.  

“In a press conference on July 14 last year, Sheikh Hasina referred to protesting students as ‘Children and Grandchildren of Razakars’ while defending the quota system. With those words, she essentially legitimized attacks on the movement,” Nahid said in his deposition before the three-member ICT-1 bench headed by Justice Golam Murtuza Majumder.

He added: “Students had always seen that whenever a just movement arose against the government, it was dismissed by branding the protesters as razakars. So when she used those words again, it humiliated the students of the entire country. That very night, students of Dhaka University and other institutions took to the streets to protest against the remarks.”

Nahid further testified that on July 17, 2024, the movement announced a “complete shutdown,” prompting students and citizens across the country to occupy the streets the next day. “Private university and madrasa students, in particular, mounted strong resistance on the streets. Many were injured and killed. Leaders had to go into hiding to evade arrest, and internet services were cut off nationwide,” he told the tribunal.

He said the following day, July 19, police and ruling-party activists “indiscriminately opened fire on students and citizens, killing and injuring many,” while electronic media was placed under complete government control. “No news of our protests or the casualties was allowed to be broadcast,” he testified.

After recording today’s deposition, the tribunal fixed tomorrow for the continuation of Nahid’s testimony.

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam, along with prosecutors Mizanul Islam and Gazi S.H. Tamim, appeared for the prosecution, while state-appointed counsel Amir Hossain represented absconding accused Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. 

Advocate Zayed bin Amjad stood for former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who was arrested, later turned approver, and testified as the 36th witness.

On July 10, ICT-1 framed charges against Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun for crimes against humanity. The tribunal subsequently accepted Al-Mamun’s plea to become an approver. 

Apart from this case, Sheikh Hasina faces two other trials before the tribunal—one over enforced disappearances and killings during her 15 years in power, and another over the 2013 Shapla Chattar killings.

Allegations of genocide and crimes against humanity committed during the suppression of the July–August 2024 Student Uprising are being tried in two international crimes tribunals.