Testimony of Chanchal Chandra Sarkar

Defence Counsel (Adv. Sarwar Jahan Nippon): What is your father’s name?

DW (Chanchal Chandra Sarkar): [redacted]

Defence: What is your mother’s name?

DW: [redacted]

Defence: Is the name and details on screen in front of you, correct?

My name is Chanchal Chandra Sarkar. Address: [redacted] District: Mymensingh]

DW: (Affirms)

Defence: Where were you on 19 July 2024? What were you doing at that time?

I am Chanchal Chandra Sarkar, ASI. I was posted at the Rampura Police Outpost from January 2023 to October 2024.

On January 25, 2025, at around 11:00 / 11:30 PM, the Officer-in-Charge took me into custody from my workplace at Dighinala Police Station in Khagrachari District. On January 28, 2025, I was produced before the International Crimes Tribunal.

On July 19, 2024, I was assigned duty at Gate No. 3 of the BTV (Bangladesh Television) building. My duty was with SI Kamruzzaman and SI Kamrul Hasan. In the morning, at approximately 6:00 / 7:00 AM, SI Kamruzzaman took the CC from the police station and went to Gate No. 3 of the BTV building. I arrived at the duty place that day at approximately 8:00 / 8:30 AM. No firearm was issued in my name on that day. I continued to perform my duty with SI Kamruzzaman. On that day, apart from the police, members of the Army, BGB [Border Guard Bangladesh], and RAB [Rapid Action Battalion] were also on duty inside the BTV building.

Defence: What happened next?

DW [Defence Witness]: Around noon, a person told me that your outpost had been attacked and an attempt was made to set the outpost on fire. At approximately 3:00 PM, I left the BTV building and entered Rampura Police Station shortly after the Maghrib Azan.

This is my deposition.

[Note: At this point, one of the Counsels sitting in the Defence benches made hints about a GD (General Diary) entry. The Tribunal rebuked the Defence for leading the witness. The Prosecution also criticized them.]

DW: I was not present at the scene of the incident when it occurred. At that time, I was on duty inside Gate No. 3 of the BTV building. On July 19, 2024, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Rampura Police Station made a GD entry regarding which police officers of Rampura Police Station had fired how many rounds of ammunition. My name was not mentioned in that GD. I did not fire any shots that day.

Tribunal: Is there anything else, or is this all your deposition?

DW: But on August 17, 2024, SI Torikul maliciously filed a GD entry at Rampura Police Station wherein he mentioned my name, even though my name was not in the OC Sir’s GD. In the OC Sir’s GD, it is mentioned that SI Torikul had fired shots.

[Note: At this point, Advocate Amir Hossain raised an objection because the DW implicated Torikul, his client, to save himself. Advocate Amir Hossain submitted a plea to the court regarding whether one can implicate a defendant to save oneself. The Tribunal refused the objection]

DW: It is mentioned in the OC Sir’s GD that the witness, SI Kibria, had fired shots that day.

I am completely innocent.

This is my deposition.

Cross-examination in favour of the Prosecution.

Prosecutor (Adv. Mizanul Islam): Who was the Officer-in-Charge of Rampura Police Station on 19/07/2024?

DW (Defence Witness): Police Inspector Moshiur Rahman.

Prosecutor: Have you submitted the GD of the OC Sir dated 19/07/24?

DW: I have not submitted the GD of the OC Sir dated 19/07/2024, which I mentioned, to the Tribunal. However, it is in the docket.

Prosecutor: Suggestion: The Officer-in-Charge’s GD contains no description regarding the three alleged incidents that occurred at the Banasree Jame Mosque adjacent to Rampura Police Station located in Block H of Banasree area under Khilgaon Police Station, a building under construction by the City Corporation adjacent to this mosque, and the area of the house of child Basit Khan Musa in Block G of Banasree.

DW: True. (It is true that the Officer-in-Charge’s GD contains no description regarding the three alleged incidents that occurred at the Banasree Jame Mosque adjacent to Rampura Police Station located in Block H of Banasree area under Khilgaon Police Station, a building under construction by the City Corporation adjacent to this mosque, and the area of the house of child Basit Khan Musa in Block G of Banasree.)

Prosecutor: With how many people did you communicate that day? Did you speak with the in-charge of the police outpost?

DW: On the day of the incident, I had no conversation with the OC Sir of the police station via mobile phone. I spoke with three or four members of the outpost force via mobile phone. I do not recall whether I spoke with the In-Charge of the outpost that day.

Prosecutor: Suggestion: On that day, the Officer-in-Charge of the police station distributed arms and ammunition among the police members verbally without any written order.

DW: Not true. (It is not true that on that day, the Officer-in-Charge of the police station distributed arms and ammunition among the police members verbally without any written order.)

Prosecutor: When you joined Rampura Police Station the following day, did you make any GD entry describing your location on the day of the incident?

DW: I did not make any GD entry describing my location on the day of the incident when I joined Rampura Police Station the following day.

Prosecutor: Suggestion: You were present at the scenes of the incidents at the time of the occurrence on that day and fired shots.

DW: Not true. (It is not true that I was present at the scenes of the incidents at the time of the occurrence on that day and fired shots.)

Prosecutor: Suggestion: You have given a false deposition to save yourself.

DW: Not true. (It is not true that I gave a false deposition to save myself.)

(Concluded)

Defence Counsel requests for 2-week time.

The Tribunal sets the date at 25 January for summing up of the case.