More than 305,000 rounds of ammunition were fired by law enforcement agencies across Bangladesh during the July-August 2024 uprising, including 95,313 rounds in Dhaka that prosecutors said were aimed at protesters’ chests and heads, the International Crimes Tribunal-2 heard on Tuesday.
Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim presented the figures on the fifth day of closing arguments in the case against former Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and six other leaders of the party and its affiliated organisations.
Citing police data compiled after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5, 2024, Tamim said law enforcement agencies fired a total of 305,311 rounds during the movement.
The prosecution said lethal weapons were used in more than 50 districts, while 438 locations across 41 districts became scenes of killings.
Weapons deployed during the crackdown included Chinese rifles, 7.62mm rifles, light machine guns, submachine guns, pistols, shotguns and revolvers, according to the prosecution.
Prosecutors also alleged that security forces used drones to locate and identify protesters before firing from helicopters.
The prosecution presented audio and video recordings of statements by senior Awami League and Chhatra League leaders as evidence of what it described as incitement to suppress the protests.
It particularly focused on violence at Dhaka University on July 15, 2024, a day after remarks by Quader that prosecutors described as inflammatory.
The prosecution alleged that Chhatra League, Jubo League and Swechchhasebak League activists attacked students with iron rods, stumps and firearms under instructions from Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain and General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Inan.
More than 300 students were injured in the violence, according to the prosecution.
The prosecution also alleged that the then-government attempted to justify the crackdown by branding protesters as supporters of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.
Besides Quader, the accused are Awami League Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, former State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat, Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, Jubo League General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, Saddam Hossain and Wali Asif Inan.
All seven accused are currently absconding.
The prosecution is expected to conclude its arguments on Wednesday with closing submissions from Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam before the three-member tribunal headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury. The state-appointed defence will then begin its arguments.
Testimony concluded on August 2 after 28 prosecution witnesses, including the investigation officer, appeared before the tribunal.
Tribunal-2 framed charges against the seven accused on January 22, clearing the way for their trial. It had taken cognisance of the prosecution’s formal charges on December 18 last year.
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