Injured July fighter Samrat Hossain told the International Crimes Tribunal on Tuesday that he recognised Ayon Osman and other alleged attackers during deadly violence in Narayanganj in July 2024 despite their wearing helmets, saying he had known them from living near the Osman family home.
“I already knew the people whose names I mentioned in my testimony. I used to live in a rented house next to Ayon Osman’s residence,” Samrat told International Crimes Tribunal-1 during cross-examination.
Samrat was testifying in a crimes against humanity case over the killing of 10 people in Narayanganj during the July 2024 mass uprising. Former lawmaker Shamim Osman and 11 others are accused in the case.
The cross-examination was held before a single-member bench comprising tribunal member Justice Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.
Samrat, an injured July fighter listed in a government gazette, completed the remainder of his deposition as the prosecution’s third witness.
He testified that he joined the Anti-Discrimination Movement in Narayanganj’s Chashara area on July 19, 2024, when protesters came under fire.
According to his testimony, then-lawmaker Shamim Osman, his son Ayon Osman, nephew Azmeri Osman and Chhatra League and Jubo League activists fired indiscriminately, leaving him with bullet and shrapnel injuries to his eyes, head and other parts of his body.
Samrat told the tribunal that he completely lost sight in his right eye and continues to suffer serious problems with his left. More than 40 pellets remain lodged in his body, he said.
During cross-examination, state-appointed defence lawyer Amir Hossain, representing four accused including fugitive Ayon Osman, challenged both Samrat’s status as a July fighter and his account of identifying the alleged attackers.
“You are not a July fighter listed in any government gazette. The gazette submitted to the tribunal was fabricated by you, and you are giving false testimony in this case to obtain benefits from the state,” the lawyer told him.
Samrat rejected the allegation.
“I am a genuine July fighter listed in the government gazette. This is not a list prepared by me. I have presented completely true and factual events before the tribunal,” he said.
The defence then pressed him on how he could identify the alleged attackers.
“They were not wearing any distinctive clothing. But they had helmets on their heads,” Samrat said.
When Amir Hossain argued that the helmets would have prevented him from recognising them, Samrat said his identification was based on prior familiarity with the men because he had lived near Ayon Osman’s home.
State-appointed defence lawyers Ali Haider and Mustavi Hasan Ratul, representing other fugitive accused, also cross-examined Samrat.
Samrat first took the stand in the case on August 12. Prosecutor Zahirul Amin appeared for the prosecution on Tuesday, assisted by prosecutors Mizanul Islam, Shahidul Islam Sardar, Abdus Sattar Palowan, Mamunur Rashid and others.
Apart from former lawmaker Shamim Osman, the other accused in the crimes against humanity case are:
Imtinan Osman Ayon, son of Shamim Osman
Azmeri Osman, Shamim Osman’s nephew
Minhaj Uddin Ahmed Vicky, Ayon’s brother-in-law
Tanvir Ahmed Titu, former president of Narayanganj Rifles Club
Raju Ahmed, Narayanganj correspondent for private television channel DBC
Abdul Karim Babu, former councillor of Ward 17
Kamrul Hasan Munna, former councillor of Ward 18
Shah Nizam Uddin Ahmed, former joint secretary of the Narayanganj Metropolitan Awami League
Jubo League leader Shahadat Hossain Sajnu
Chhatra League leader Habibur Rahman Riyad
Chhatra League leader Sohanur Rahman Shuvro