Two different scenes played out in separate at the International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Thursday, with an accused Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) weeping over his legal woes, followed by a victim of atrocities during July Uprising displaying the wounds his paralysed leg and body still bears.

Standing in the dock of the ICT, accused BGB officer Lieutenant Colonel Redowanul Islam broke down in tears during the hearing of a crimes against humanity case filed against him centring an incident in the capital’s Rampura.

He appealed to Judge Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury of the single-member bench of ICT-1 for a somewhat longer adjournment, saying that continuing the legal battle had become impossible because hearing dates were being set too frequently.

During cross-examination by his own lawyer, Shahinur Islam, Redowanul Islam sought permission to speak. 

With the judge’s permission, he said, “I suffer a lot when dates are given too frequently. I cannot even pay my lawyer’s fees. I do not have much financial savings either. The salary I currently receive is very small. Should I run my family with this money or pay my lawyer’s expenses? I do not understand.”

Regarding the accused’s plea, state prosecutor Gazi M H Tamim said the accused’s main desire should be to conclude the trial of the case quickly so that the trial can be disposed of quickly through hearings at short intervals. 

After hearing both sides, the judge remarked that the accused’s statement had touched his heart. 

The court subsequently fixed September 2 for the unfinished cross-examination.

On the same day, Tejgaon College student Ratul Hasan (witness No. 12) appeared before the tribunal and recounted the horrifying memory of what happened to his body.

Describing the days of the movement, he said his friend Rifat was injured by police firing on July 18, while shots were also being fired from helicopters in the sky.

The next day, July 19, after Jummah prayers, BGB and police again began firing on innocent protesters without any warning in front of Rampura Multicare Hospital. 

While running to save his life, a bullet entered through the back of Ratul’s left leg below the knee and exited through the front, shattering the bone in his leg. 

While giving his deposition, Ratul showed the horrific wound on his paralysed leg in the courtroom.

“This attack was carried out on the instructions of the then prime minister, home minister, Obaidul Quader and senior officials of BGB and police. How many fresh lives were mercilessly lost, including those of Samudra, Ramzan and Shawon. I have still not fully recovered, and I suffer from this pain every day.” 

He demanded exemplary punishment for those who ordered the brutal firing and those who directly fired the shots.

It may be mentioned that in the case over the Rampura massacre, BGB Lieutenant Colonel Redowanul Islam and Major Md Rifat Bin Alam are currently arrested and detained in the sub-jail of Dhaka Cantonment. 

The other two accused in the case, former ADC of the DMP’s Khilgaon zone Md Rashedul Islam and former officer-in-charge of Rampura Police Station Md Mashiur Rahman, are still absconding.