Dhaka, Sep 02 (V7N) – Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, once an accused, has appeared as a public witness before the International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) in the trial of crimes against humanity committed during the July–August Movement.

Mamun’s testimony was recorded in the presence of the prosecution team and his lawyer. He had earlier given a similar statement at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court (CMM).

In his deposition, Mamun revealed that the decision to deploy deadly weapons, conduct helicopter shootings, and carry out block raids to suppress the movement was politically motivated. He alleged that the direct instructions to use lethal force came from former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, while former Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Habibur Rahman Habib and Detective Branch chief DB Harun were “very enthusiastic” about executing those orders.

So far, 35 witnesses have testified in this case, including doctors, journalists, families of martyrs, and eyewitnesses. Their statements collectively paint a grim picture of nationwide atrocities, with repeated demands for exemplary punishment of those responsible.

The latest phase of testimony and cross-examination, which concluded on September 1, included six witnesses. Testimonies are set to continue today.

On July 10, ICT-1 ordered the start of the trial by framing five formal charges of crimes against humanity against Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and Abdullah Al Mamun.

The case dossier spans 8,747 pages, including 2,018 pages of references, 405 pages of seized and documentary evidence, and a list of 2,724 martyrs. A total of 81 witnesses are scheduled to testify. The tribunal’s investigation agency submitted its report to the Chief Prosecutor on May 12.

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