July fighter Hannan tells tribunal he was shot, beaten during revolution; seeks punishment for Hasina, Kamrul, Menon

July uprising fighter Md Abdul Hannan Mia told the International Crimes Tribunal on Monday that he was shot during the August 5 protests in Dhaka.

He said he was subsequently surrounded and severely beaten after falling to the ground with a gunshot wound.

Hannan sought punishment for former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Kamrul Islam and Rashed Khan Menon over alleged crimes against humanity during the 2024 uprising.

The 40-year-old appeared as the fourth prosecution witness before International Crimes Tribunal-1 on September 28.

Listed as a Category B July fighter in the government gazette, Hannan gave an account of protests and violence he said he witnessed in Dhaka between July 15 and August 5, 2024.

He told the tribunal that he became involved in the movement after witnessing violence against protesters near the Raju Memorial Sculpture at Dhaka University on July 15.

According to Hannan, members of Chhatra League and Jubo League, along with police, attacked protesters there.

Three days later, he said, thousands of protesters had gathered near BRAC University in Badda when police and armed activists of Chhatra League and Jubo League advanced towards them while firing.

Hannan testified that he saw five or six people lying bloodied on the road following the shooting.

He said the violence intensified on July 19, when police, Border Guard Bangladesh, Rapid Action Battalion personnel and ruling-party activists allegedly opened fire on protesters from different directions.

Hannan said he saw another 10 to 12 protesters fall during the violence.

He also referred to an emergency meeting of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance at Ganabhaban on July 19, chaired by then-prime minister Hasina and attended by senior leaders including Menon and Kamrul.

Hannan testified that after the meeting, then-Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader announced the nationwide curfew.

He alleged that the decision and subsequent actions by security forces facilitated further violence against protesters.

Hannan said that on July 20 he saw bodies and wounded protesters near the Badda U-loop being taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

His own injuries came on August 5.

Hannan told the tribunal that he was outside BRAC University at around 11am to join the “Long March” when security forces and Awami League activists approaching from Rampura Bridge opened fire.

A bullet struck him above his left ankle and passed through his leg, he said.

After falling to the ground, Hannan alleged that Awami League activists surrounded and beat him while other protesters sought shelter in nearby alleys.

He said the assault left him with injuries to his head and forehead and a fractured left shoulder.

Other protesters later rescued him and took him to hospital, according to his testimony.

At the end of his deposition, Hannan sought what he called “exemplary punishment” for Hasina, Kamrul and Menon.

“I want exemplary punishment for then-fascist prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her associates, including Kamrul Islam and Rashed Khan Menon, who imposed a curfew and killed, tortured and maimed students and ordinary people,” he told the tribunal.

He said such punishment should help end what he described as a culture of impunity.

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