TDS Desk:

International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam on Wednesday termed the testimony of former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun as “irrefutable evidence” of Sheikh Hasina’s misrule.

Mamun, who turned approver in the case against the ousted Prime Minister and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal over atrocities committed during the July 2024 Mass Uprising, testified before ICT-1 on September 2. He pleaded guilty, sought mercy, and directly implicated Hasina and Kamal in ordering the use of lethal force against protesters.

“On July 18, 2024, the then Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal informed me that Sheikh Hasina had directly ordered the use of lethal weapons to suppress the uprising,” Mamun told the tribunal.

He said the order was relayed nationwide through Additional DIG Proloy Kumar Joarder, including to then DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman. “From that day, the use of deadly weapons began,” Mamun added, naming former top police officials who executed the directives.

Mamun alleged that Hasina was encouraged to adopt the violent course by senior leaders including Obaidul Quader, Salman F Rahman, Anisul Huq, Hasanul Haq Inu, Rashed Khan Menon, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Mirza Azam, Fazle Noor Taposh and Mohammad Ali Arafat.

The former police chief further described nightly “core committee” meetings held at Kamal’s Dhanmondi residence from July 19, 2024, where strategies were set to crush the movement. One such meeting allegedly approved the arrests of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement leaders on a DGFI proposal, carried out later by the Detective Branch.

He admitted those student leaders were coerced into withdrawing the movement and issuing televised statements under duress, with their families also brought in to increase pressure.

Mamun recounted August 5, 2024, saying that as massive crowds advanced into Dhaka, he was informed around midday that Hasina would step down, though her whereabouts remained uncertain. Later, he was flown by army helicopter to the cantonment with senior police officials. The following day, his IGP appointment was revoked, and on September 3 he was arrested while inside the cantonment.

Seeking forgiveness from victims’ families and the nation, Mamun said, “If my complete testimony helps reveal the truth, and Allah grants me life, I will spend the rest of my days with some relief from the burden of guilt.”

Mamun, who served 36 and a half years in the police, claimed he had maintained integrity throughout his career but accepted responsibility for the mass killings that occurred during his tenure as police chief.

Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam said the testimony was crucial for establishing accountability. “This is irrefutable evidence of Hasina’s misrule and the atrocities committed under her command,” he told reporters.