Testimony of Tabassum Akhtar Niha

My name is Tabassum Akhtar Niha. My present age is approximately 24 years. I am a housewife. My husband was Shaheed Nadim Mizan. He ran a cylinder business in the Rampura Banasree area. We have two sons.

On Friday, 19 July 2024, my husband went to offer Jummah prayers at the mosque located in front of Rampura Police Station. At approximately 2:00 p.m. that day, some people brought my husband to our residence in a bloodied and gunshot-injured condition. Upon seeing my husband in that condition, I lost consciousness. At that time, continuous gunfire was taking place outside, due to which I could not take him to the hospital.

Later, after my husband was taken to the hospital, the attending doctor declared him dead. I came to know that after coming out of the mosque, my husband was shot by gunfire from the police and BGB in front of the police station.

When Nadim’s body was being brought back home from the hospital, the police of Rampura Police Station attempted to take custody of the body. At that time, we brought Nadim’s body to our residence. During that time, a large number of protesting students and members of the public gathered at our house and in the surrounding area.

At that moment, tear gas shells were fired from a helicopter targeting the student–public crowd. When a tear gas shell came toward my mother’s body, my two brothers protected her. They were outside to observe the situation. The tear gas shell fell on the roof of our house and exploded. While sitting inside the room, I heard the sound of the helicopter and smelled the tear gas, which caused tears to flow from my eyes and mouth.

Thereafter, at approximately 10:00 p.m., my husband’s body was taken to the Mirpur 1 No. Eidgah Field beside our house. At approximately 11:00 p.m., his funeral prayer was held. After the funeral, his burial was completed at the Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard.

Sheikh Hasina and the police personnel who fired the shots are responsible for my husband’s killing. I seek justice for my husband’s murder. The IO has investigated me. This is my testimony.

Cross-examination (on behalf of accused Chanchal Chandra Sarkar)

On the day and time of the incident, I was at my father’s house in Rampura Banasree.

There, people brought my husband to our house in a bloodied condition. I cannot name the persons who brought him home. When Nadim was brought home in a bloodied condition, I did not have any conversation with him. When my husband was brought home, I do not know whether he was alive or not.

Both of Nadim’s parents are deceased. The same persons who brought Nadim’s body home took him to the hospital and later brought his body back home. No death certificate was issued by the hospital because at that time the police were obstructing the removal of the body from the hospital.

It is not true that the police were not obstructing the removal of the body from the hospital.

From the persons who brought my husband home, I learned that after Jummah prayers, Nadim was shot by police and BGB gunfire in front of the mosque.

It is not true that Nadim was not shot and killed in front of the mosque.
It is not true that Nadim was shot and died elsewhere.

I did not lodge any GD or file any case with any police station regarding Nadim’s death. When the police wanted to take my husband’s body, the relatives present at my house and other people took the body away.

It is not true that I have given false testimony.

Question: How do you know that the police and BGB fired the shots?

(This question was repeatedly interrupted, stating that it would shift blame based on interest. The court decided to address this question later.)

Cross-examination by Amir Hossain (on behalf of absconding accused)

It is not true that I personally saw my husband being shot. I heard it from others. It is not true that I did not inform the investigating officer of this fact.

 

Next date: Tomorrow