Testimony of Amir Hossain

My name is Amir Hossain. Father’s name [redacated]. My age is approximately 18 years. My address [redacted] District: Brahmanbaria.

During the July-August 2024 movement, I worked at a food shop called Mama Coffee Shop in Aftabnagar. At that time, I used to live with my aunt in the Meradia area under Rampura Police Station.

On Friday, July 19, 2024, after the Jummah Prayer, I started my journey from my shop towards home. After crossing the bamboo bridge over the Rampura canal and getting onto the main road, I saw that the police and BGB members were firing bullets at the protesting people and students. Fearing the gunfire, I climbed onto the roof of the 4th floor of a nearby under-construction building. Three police officers came up to the roof following me. Seeing the police approach, I hung onto a rod attached to the roof for shelter. One police officer told me to jump down from there. I did not jump and kept hanging onto the rod. Then that police officer shot me 3 rounds with a pistol, one after another. All 3 bullets hit my leg. Then he left. Another police officer came and shot 3 more rounds with a pistol. Those 3 rounds of bullets also hit my two legs. I lost consciousness. When I regained consciousness, I saw that I was undergoing treatment at Famous Hospital. The doctors were stitching and bandaging the bullet wounds on my legs. My aunt came to the hospital in the evening. As my condition deteriorated, I was taken from there by ambulance to Dhaka Medical at around 12:00 AM. After being admitted to Dhaka Medical for 3 days without proper treatment, I returned home and received treatment at Farazi Hospital in the Banasree area.

The video of me being shot went viral on Facebook a few days later. Seeing that video, a few students came to my house, and they arranged for my treatment at Tongi Ahsania Hospital. After one week of treatment there, I was brought to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (National Heart Disease Hospital). An operation was performed there because the artery in my leg was severed by the bullet. I was undergoing treatment there for one month. After this, I was admitted to Savar CRP Hospital. I received other treatments there. I still have to go there occasionally.

I still cannot move my toes properly.

Later, I came to know that Rampura Police Station OC, SI Chanchal, SI Tariqul had shot me. I also came to know that SI Chanchal has been arrested, and SI Tariqul has fled.

I demand punishment for those who shot me without any reason.

The Investigating Officer has questioned me.

This is my deposition.

Cross-Examination on behalf of ASI Chanchal Chandra Sarker

Defence – First we want to request the court to use the inherent power under Section 46 to let us exhibit the viral video. Judge 2 – Is there a way to show the video according to law?

Gazi Tamim, prosecutor: My Lord, we will not exhibit any exhibit today; the IO will exhibit everything all at once.

Amir Hossain, defence: Let the IO exhibit it; what is the problem with seeing it?

Defence – Prosecution cannot stop us if the tribunal allows. Who are they to dictate us?

Judge – But there is a procedure and you have to come as per the procedure.

Gazi Tamim – Reads out Section 9(5) of the Rules and Procedure where evidence must be provided within the specific time stated in law even before the trial starts. He also mentioned, as a remedy of this, Section 9(6) has been added so that the defence can bring their evidence later in the trial.

Judge 1 – You are barred by law, but still we are exercising inherent power to give you opportunity.

Amir Hossain .defence- But if the document is not submitted, it is in our favor.

Judge 1 – This is what happens if you don’t have trial experience.

Defence – Please allow the video to be shown.

Judge – It is the job of the prosecution to submit evidences. If they donot want to submit, is it your headache?

Cross examination begins

I did not offer the Juma prayer on the day of the incident.

At this point, the Defense asks the victim to show his wounds.

It is not true that one bullet exited through the top of my left leg. Rather, the bullet entered through the top of the leg and exited through the sole of the foot (The witness showed the bullet marks on his leg).

When the police, who followed me up to the roof, shot me, I was hanging onto the rod. The police were on the roof. I was hanging onto the rod on the cornice of the roof. When the police shot me, I could not see it. I did not throw any bricks or stones at the police.

Doctors at the hospital told me that six bullets struck my leg through one side and exited through the other side, and I needed 12 stitches on my leg.

It is not true that all the bullets hit below my knee.

Three bullets hit my right leg above and below the knee. Three bullets hit my left leg. Among them, one bullet hit my right thigh below the waist and exited downwards.

It is not true that the bullets that hit my leg were pellets. I said bullets had hit my leg.

It is not true that the police shot me from the 3rd floor, not the 4th floor. The police shot me from the roof.

It is not true that someone else shot me from below.

I saw the police going up to the roof with pistols in their hands.

It is not true that the police did not shoot me.

It is not true that I gave testimony as instructed by others.

It is not true that I gave false testimony.

Cross-Examination on behalf of absconding accused Habibur Rahman, Md Rashedul Islam, Md. Moshiur Rahman, SI Tariqul Islam Bhuiya by the learned State Defence Counsel

My house is to the south of Meradia Bazar. It costs 20 taka to go by rickshaw. There is a small bamboo bridge beside Meradia Bazar.

It is not true that I did not tell the Investigating Officer that I climbed onto the roof of the fourth floor of a nearby under-construction building out of fear of gunfire.

It is not true that I did not tell the Investigating Officer that I hung onto a rod attached to the roof for shelter, seeing the police approach.

It is not true that I falsely said that 3 police officers came up to the roof following me.

It is not true that I falsely said that one police officer told me to jump down.

It is not true that I did not tell the Investigating Officer that I kept hanging onto the rod without jumping.

It is not true that I falsely said the words: “Then that police officer shot me 3 rounds with a pistol, one after another. All 3 bullets hit my leg. Then he left. Another police officer came and shot 3 more rounds with a pistol. Those 3 rounds of bullets also hit my two legs.”

I came to know about this after returning from CRP Hospital. I cannot say from whom I came to know about it. I did not conduct any verification in this regard.

It is not true that Rampura Police Station OC and SI Tariqul did not shoot me or that they were not present at the scene.

It is not true that I gave false testimony, implicating these accused based on speculation.

When I was shot, I was wearing pants and a t-shirt. The Investigating Officer did not seize those pants and t-shirt. I do not know what the doctors did with them after cutting them off when stitching my bullet wounds in the hospital.

The Investigating Officer seized my treatment-related papers and documents.

All 6 bullets that hit my body exited.

It is not true that the bullets that hit my body were not fired by the accused, but by someone else.