Staff Reporter:
The prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) yesterday hoped that the testimony in the crimes against humanity case against Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Chowdhury Abdul-lah Al-Mamun would conclude by October.
“Except for the investigation officer, we hope to complete recording the testimony of the material wit-nesses in this case within September. At most, it may extend to the first week of October,” prosecutor Mizanul Islam told newsmen.
Four new prosecution witnesses (PWs) testified in the case yesterday and were later cross-examined by the defence. With them, a total of nine prosecution witnesses have so far testified in the case.
July protester Abdus Samad, 24, testified as PW-6 and narrated how he got shot by police on the back of his head on July 19, 2024, in front of BNS Centre in Uttara Azampur, while taking part in anti-discrimination movement rally there.
The witness said he was admitted twice to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, but the doctors there failed to extract the bullet from his head. The bullet was finally pulled out at Ibn Sina Hospital in Shankar, Dhanmandi after August 5, 2024.
PW-7 Md Mizan Miah testified as seizure list witness, corroborating the recovery of the bullet extracted from the back of the head of Samad, by the investigation officer.
Twenty-two year old Nayeem Shikder, who got shot by police in front of the residence of then Khulna City Corporation Mayor on August 4, 2024, testified as PW-8 and described how a cop fired only from five meter distance on the protesters, including him.
“I received around 500 pellets on my back. I was taken to three hospitals, one after another, but all of them refused to provide treatment. At one stage, one doctor at Khulna Medical College Hospital, pulled a bullet from my back without making me unconscious,” Nayeem said.
The witness said he is still taking treatment at Bangladesh Medical University Hospital in the capital.
July Mass Uprising martyr Sazzad Hossain Sajal’s mother Shahina Begum testified as PW-9 and narrated the heart wrenching incidents of August 5 in Ashulia area, where her son was killed by police and later his body was burnt.
All the witnesses demanded justice and pleaded for holding Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Chuwdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun and others accountable for the vicious crimes committed during the July-August Mass Uprising.
The first tribunal on July 10 indicted the ousted prime minister and the other two for the role in crimes against humanity committed during July-August mass uprising.
