Witness 6: Mohammad Abdul Matin
Evidence given by Mohammad Abdul Matin
My name is Mohammad Abdul Matin. I am 50 years old. My address is: [redacted] Mymensingh.
I am the father of martyr Sheikh Shahriar Bin Matin.(18 years 8 months and 19 days old). On 18 July 2024, my son participated in the anti-discrimination student movement at Mirpur-10 Roundabout, where he sustained gunshot injuries. From there, his fellow protesters first took him to Alok Hospital and then to Azmat Hospital. From those hospitals, he was referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
On that day, I was at my village home. After receiving news over the phone that my son had been shot, I set out for Dhaka with my nephew Riyad. After overcoming many obstacles, I reached Dhaka Medical College Hospital at around 1:30 AM. There, I found my son in a critical condition in the ICU. The attending doctor informed me that a bullet had struck him above his right eye, entered his skull, and lodged in his brain. The bullet could not be removed, and the doctors did not dare to perform surgery. Upon my request, they conducted a CT scan. After reviewing the report, the doctors said that it would not be safe to operate in his condition. I requested them to release him so I could seek treatment elsewhere, but they refused.
On 20 July 2024 at 2:06 PM, the attending doctor declared him dead. When I wanted to take the body, the doctors asked me to go to the police station for legal formalities. I went to Mirpur Police Station, but they refused to register a General Diary (GD), stating that many people had been shot across Dhaka on 18 July and there was no proof that my son was shot within their jurisdiction.
On 21 July 2024, I came to know that Shahbag Police Station was recording GDs. I went there and filed a GD. With the GD copy, I returned to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where my son’s inquest and post-mortem were conducted. At around 8 PM, I, along with my wife, daughter, and other family members, took my son’s body to our village home by ambulance. Members of the Awami League and administrative personnel prevented us from taking the body to the village for burial. When I refused to comply, they instructed us to bury him secretly at night. On the way to the village, we faced multiple obstructions.
On 22 July 2024 at around 10:30 AM, my son was buried in our family graveyard. (At this stage, the witness breaks down in tears.)
Shahriar was my only son. He was an HSC examinee in 2024 from Ishwarganj Ideal College. After completing five exams, during a break in exams, he came to visit our rented house under Bhatara Police Station on 10 July 2024. From there, on 16 July 2024, he went to Mirpur to his aunt’s house and later joined the movement with his cousin.
Subsequently, I came to know that under the instigation and ill advice of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her adviser Salman F Rahman, Law Minister Anisul Huq, and others, around 1,400 protesters across the country, including my son, were killed. On 19 July 2024, a 14-party meeting was held under the leadership of the Prime Minister, where a plan was adopted to suppress and eliminate protesting students.
After 5 August 2024, I heard on social media a conversation between accused Anisul Huq and Salman F Rahman, where they stated that the protesting students and people would be eliminated through the imposition of curfew.
I demand capital punishment for all those involved in the killing of my son.
This is my statement.
The Investigating Officer examined me.
Cross-Examination on behalf of the present accused Salman F Rahman and Anisul Haque
Defence: What is your occupation?
PW: I am employed as a National Sales Manager at a private company named Alpha Group.
Defence: Did you file any case regarding the death of your son?
PW: I filed a complaint before the International Crimes Tribunal seeking justice for my son’s killing.
Defence: When did you file the complaint?
PW: I filed the complaint on 21 August 2024.
Defence: Do you have a copy of the complaint?
PW: It is on my mobile phone.
Defence: Please send a copy of the complaint to my mobile. (Objected).
Defence: Do you know what happened after filing the complaint?
PW: An investigation was conducted based on that complaint.
Defence: You stated that you heard conversations between Anisul Huq and Salman F Rahman on social media—when did you come to know about this?
PW: After 5 August, but I cannot specify the exact date.
Defence: The statements you made regarding Sheikh Hasina, Salman F Rahman, Anisul Huq, and the alleged 14-party meeting planning killings are tutored statements.
PW: It is not true that I made those statements as taught.
Defence: You have given false testimony regarding accused Anisul Huq and Salman F Rahman.
PW: It is not true that I have given false testimony regarding them.
Defence: The accused Anisul Huq and Salman F Rahman are not involved in this case in any way.
PW: It is not true that the accused Anisul Huq and Salman F Rahman are not involved in this case.