News Flash
DHAKA, Sept 3, 2025 (BSS) - International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Chief
Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam today described the testimony of former
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun in a crimes
against humanity case as irrefutable evidence of Sheikh Hasina's misrule.
Mamun, who turned approver in the case against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, over atrocities
committed during the July Mass Uprising, testified on September 2, pleading
guilty and seeking mercy for his role.
Testifying before ICT-1, Mamun said the killings and other brutal acts during
the uprising were carried out on the instructions of Sheikh Hasina and Kamal.
"On July 18, 2024, the then Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal called and
informed me that Sheikh Hasina had directly ordered the use of lethal weapons
to suppress the uprising," Mamun said.
The former IGP added that he was at the Police Headquarters at the time, with
then Additional DIG Proloy Kumar Joarder present. The order to use lethal
weapons was later conveyed across the country, including to Dhaka
Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman, by Proloy Kumar. From
that day, the use of deadly weapons began.
"Former DMP Commissioner Habibur and former DMP Additional Commissioner
Mohammad Harun or Rashid were very eager about using these weapons.
Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal had instructed that the uprising be suppressed at any
cost. Sheikh Hasina was allegedly encouraged to use lethal weapons by Obaidul
Quader, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Anisul Huq, Salman F. Rahman, Rashed Khan
Menon, Hasanul Haq Inu, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Mirza Azam, Fazle Noor Taposh
and Mohammad Ali Arafat," he said.
On the "core committee meetings", Mamun stated that from July 19, 2024,
nearly every night, the then Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan held meetings at
his Dhanmondi residence. During these meetings, government directives-
including strategies to suppress the uprising-were issued.
In one meeting, it was decided to arrest the coordinators of the Anti-
Discrimination Student Movement. The proposal was made by the Directorate
General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), and Mamun said he initially opposed it
but later agreed under the Home Minister's instructions. The responsibility
for the arrests was given to the then DB chief Harun. Following the decision,
DGFI and DB carried out the arrests and brought the coordinators into DB
custody.
While in custody, the coordinators were pressured to compromise with the
government regarding the movement, and their family members were also brought
to DB to increase pressure. Eventually, the coordinators were forced to
withdraw the movement and issue televised statements.
Regarding August 5, 2024, Mamun said that on the morning of that day, he went
to his office at the Police Headquarters as large numbers of students and
citizens began entering through various routes, including Uttara and
Jatrabari. Between 12:00 and 1:00 pm, he learned that the Prime Minister
would relinquish power, though her destination was unknown.
Later that afternoon, an army helicopter took him first to the Tejgaon
Airport helipad and then to the Officers' Mess in the cantonment. Onboard
were Special Branch (SB) Chief Monirul Islam, former DMP Commissioner Habib,
DIG Amena, and later Additional DIG Proloy, Additional IGP Lutful Kabir, and
others.
On August 6, his appointment as IGP was cancelled, and while staying in the
cantonment, he was arrested on September 3, Mamun said.
He sought forgiveness from the families of the martyrs, the injured, the
people of the country, and the ICT for his involvement.
"If my sincere and complete testimony can help bring out the truth and if
Allah grants me more life, I will spend the rest of my days with at least
some relief from the burden of guilt," Mamun told the tribunal.
Mamun, who served 36 and a half years in the police force, said policing is a
"tricky job" that often draws public complaints. He claimed that throughout
his career no allegations were ever brought against him and that he carried
out his duties with humanity and integrity.
"Yet, at the end of my career, such a grave mass killing took place during my
tenure. I accept responsibility for that," the former police chief said.
