News Flash
DHAKA, Aug 11, 2025 (BSS) – Shahriar Khan Palash, father of martyr Shahriar Khan Anas, today testified at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1, saying the man who targeted, shot and subsequently killed his son was in the uniform of Armed Police Battalion (ApBN).
“Anas, Rabbi Hossain and Sourav Ahammed wanted to go Shaheed Minar through Chankharpul on August 5, 2024. As they along with other protesters reached Chankharpul area, they came under police blockade. Hundreds of protesters gathered there. To disperse the protesters, police started to lob sound grenades, tear shells, firing from shotgun and Chinese rifle,” he said quoting eyewitness and Anas’s fellow protesters Rabbi and Sourav, today.
The mournful father, who testified as the first prosecution witness (PW), said a man in ApBN uniform aimed at Anas standing at Nabab Katara lane in Nimtoli and fired.
“The bullet pierced his heart and exited through the back. People including Rabbi and Sourav, took him to Mitford hospital on rickshaw where he was declared dead,” he added, demanding justice over the killing of six people including his son in the area on that day and death sentence for the killers.
Palash said his son went away from their Gendaria house in the morning of August 5, to join the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. He wrote a letter for his mother, saying he is going to join the protest rally and if he fails to return, they should be proud of him, the witness added.
“At around 1.30 pm, my wife received a phone call from an unknown number, who asked whether any of our family member joined Anti-Discrimination Student Movement? As my wife replied that our son has gone to join the movement, the caller asked her to go Mitford Hospital immediately. After that, I, my wife and my father-in-law went to the hospital and found Anas’s dead body on a stretcher in front of the emergency,” Palash further said.
After his testimony, the witness was cross examined by the defence. At the end of today’s proceedings, the tribunal adjourned the hearing till tomorrow.
Before the submission of deposition, ICT Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam placed opening statement in the case.
The three-member panel of the ICT-1 led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder on July 14 framed charges against eight accused in a crimes against humanity case filed over the killings of six innocent people in the city's Chankharpul area on August 5, 2024.
The prosecution, led by Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam on July 3 had argued for framing charges against the accused, while the defence counsels moved their discharge petitions for their clients.
Advocate Saddam Hossain Ovy argued for accused Inspector Arshad, Barrister Sifat Mahmud for constable Md Sujon, Advocate Shibli Sadekin for constable Imaj Hossain Emon, Advocate Abul Hasan for constable Nasirul Islam and state-appointed counsel Advocate Md Kutubuddin defended four fugitive accused at the tribunal.
The ICT-1 on June 3 ordered authorities concerned to publish a notice in two national dailies, asking the four fugitive accused to appear before the court. The four fugitive accused are former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman, former DMP Joint Commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former Additional Deputy Commissioner Shah Alam Mohammad Akhtarul Islam and former Assistant Commissioner of Ramna Zone of DMP Mohammad Imrul.
The notice was published on the next day. The four fugitives, however, remained absent, prompting the tribunal to appoint Advocate Md Kutubuddin as the state's defence counsel to defend the accused.
The prosecution on May 25 filed the formal charge against eight in the crimes against humanity case lodged over the killings of six innocent people in the city's Chankharpul area on August 5, 2024. It was the maiden formal charge, filed at the ICT in the cases lodged over the July-August Mass Uprising.
Shahriar Khan Anas, Sheikh Mahdi Hasan Zunayed, Md Yakub, Md Rakib Hawlader, Md Ismamul Haque and Manik Miah embraced martyrdom in Chankharpul area on August 5.
The investigation agency of the tribunal filed the 90-page probe report on April 20.
