Witness 4: Md Alamin Patwar

Evidence given by Md Alamin Patwar

My name is Md Alamin Patwari. My father’s name is [redacted]. My current age is 65. My permanent address is [redacted] Lakshmipur. My present address is [redacted]

Prosecution: What matter have you come to testify about?
Witness: I am a retired Madrasa teacher. On 5/8/2024, my son, Mohammad Anwar Hossain Patwari (35), participated in the Anti-Discrimination July Movement in the Mirpur 10 area. (At this point, the witness breaks down in tears.) On that day, at around 5:00 o’clock, finding his mobile phone switched off, I started looking for him. Then, I heard from people that my son had been shot and taken to Dr. Azmal Hospital in Mirpur 10. My wife and I went to Dr. Azmal Hospital. Upon arriving, I saw 15/20 people, including my son, lying dead on the floor. Along with my son, the others had also died from bullet wounds. I identified my son there. Seeing the blood on the bodies of my son and the others in the hospital, I fell physically ill. My younger son, Md. Abdullah, was also with me. Afterward, I brought my dead son’s body home from the hospital.

Prosecution: Did you collect any certificate from the hospital?

Witness: I also collected my son’s death certificate from the hospital. (Since this was taken through a leading question, the Prosecution asked the Defence if they are okay with taking this statement from the witness. The Defence did not express any objection). Later that night, at around 10:00 PM, my son’s Janaza (funeral prayer) was held in the Rupnagar Residential Area, and we buried him at our home in Lakshmipur.

Later, I came to know that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Road Minister (Road, Transport and Bridges Minister) Obaidul Quader, former Law Minister Anisul Huq, the Prime Minister’s former adviser Salman F Rahman, and others are responsible for my son’s murder. They held a meeting, imposed a curfew, and decided to wipe out the students and the masses in order to suppress the movement. That is why I am holding them responsible for my son’s murder.

I want justice for my son’s murder. I want a trial that ensures such incidents never happen again in the future.

Prosecution: Did you testify before the Investigating Officer?

Witness: The Investigating Officer has questioned me.

This is my testimony.

Cross-examination in favour of the present accused Anisul Haque and Salman F Rahman.

Defence: Did you read any newspapers regarding the movement?
Witness: I have heard about the movement, but I have not read any newspapers about it.

Defence: Do you have a TV at your house?
Witness: I do not have a television at my house.

Defence: Do you know when former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left the country?
Witness: I do not know when the former Prime Minister left the country.

Defence: At 2:00 PM on August 5, 2024, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stepped down from power and left the country.
Witness: I do not know whether former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stepped down from power and left the country at 2:00 PM on August 5, 2024.

Defence: Can you say when your son was shot?
Witness: I cannot say when my son was shot.

Defence: Do you know who shot your son?
Witness: I do not know who shot my son.

Defence: You have been tutored to say that “former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Road Minister (Road, Transport and Bridges Minister) Obaidul Quader, former Law Minister Anisul Huq, the Prime Minister’s former adviser Salman F Rahman, and others are responsible for my son’s murder.”
Witness: It is not true that I have been tutored to say that “former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Road Minister (Road, Transport and Bridges Minister) Obaidul Quader, former Law Minister Anisul Huq, the Prime Minister’s former adviser Salman F Rahman, and others are responsible for my son’s murder.”

Defence: You made a false statement to the effect that “former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Road Minister (Road, Transport and Bridges Minister) Obaidul Quader, former Law Minister Anisul Huq, the Prime Minister’s former adviser Salman F Rahman, and others are responsible for my son’s murder.”
Witness: It is not true that I made a false statement to the effect that “former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Road Minister (Road, Transport and Bridges Minister) Obaidul Quader, former Law Minister Anisul Huq, the Prime Minister’s former adviser Salman F Rahman, and others are responsible for my son’s murder.”

Defence: “They held a meeting, imposed a curfew, and decided to wipe out the students and the masses in order to suppress the movement”— how did you know this?
Witness: I heard it from the people and read in the newspaper that “They held a meeting, imposed a curfew, and decided to wipe out the students and the masses in order to suppress the movement” The whole world knows this.

Defence: Can you tell from which newspaper you know this thing?
Witness: I cannot remember from which newspaper I have known this.

Defence: You have been tutored to say that “They held a meeting, imposed a curfew, and decided to wipe out the students and the masses in order to suppress the movement.”
Witness: It is not true that I have been tutored to say that “They held a meeting, imposed a curfew, and decided to wipe out the students and the masses in order to suppress the movement.”

Defence: You have spoken untruthfully to the effect that “They held a meeting, imposed a curfew, and decided to wipe out the students and the masses in order to suppress the movement.”
Witness: It is not true that I have spoken untruthfully to the effect that “They held a meeting, imposed a curfew, and decided to wipe out the students and the masses in order to suppress the movement.”

Defence: You have made a false testimony against the accused.
Witness: It is not true that I have made a false testimony against the accused.

Defence: These accused are not liable for the death of your son.
Witness: It is not true that these accused are not liable for the death of my son.