Witness 2: Md. Kamal Howlader

Testimony of Md. Kamal Howlader

My name is Md. Kamal Howlader and my current age is 52 years. My address: [redacted] Madaripur.

I am the father of Martyr Sifat. On July 20, 2024, at approximately 1:10 PM, my son and I went to the Mirpur 10 roundabout area for the purpose of marketing (shopping). At that time, shops on all sides were closed due to the movement. At that time, I went to a small roadside stall (tong shop) nearby to smoke a cigarette. My son joined the procession with the protesting students of Mirpur 10. With a cigarette in my hand, I stepped out of the shop and saw three processions coming toward the students from three directions. Two processions came from the north; in one procession was MP Nikhil Mia with a weapon in his hand, and there were weapons in his hands and the hands of others.

In another procession from the north was Kamal Majumdar’s son and other people with him. They came toward the students while firing. The third procession was coming from the south; the procession was led by Manikganj-2 [Note: user text says 13] constituency MP S.M. Zahid and Commissioner Jony, and their people were coming toward the protesting students while firing.

The three processions surrounded the students from three sides. I heard the sound of gunfire; suddenly, I heard that Sifat had been shot. I ran there and saw my son lying shot, and another person was writhing on the road having been shot in the eye. His eye had come out. I took my son in my arms, and my body was soaked in my son’s blood. I moved my hand over my son’s head, searching for the bullet wound. At that moment, two of my fingers entered the gunshot wound in his head. I tried to save my son by blowing into his mouth. I have lived in that area since 1989. I know many of the Awami League members there. Awami League leader Jony Sonar’s son, Ruhul Amin Howlader, Zia, and their people took my son from me to Zia’s building and returned him to me at everyone’s request.

I took my son and the boy shot in the eye to the nearby Al Helal Hospital by a rickshaw. There, the doctors bandaged my son’s head. When they told me to take him to Dhaka Medical or Suhrawardy Medical, I took him to Suhrawardy Hospital. There, the doctors declared my son dead (at this stage, the witness breaks down in tears). From there, I brought my son to the Mirpur 10 house by a CNG.

The local Awami League people did not allow my son to be bathed or his Janaza (funeral prayer) to be held. I took my son’s body to my village home in Madaripur via an ambulance. There, his Janaza and burial were completed in the social graveyard. The then head of government Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Obaidul Quader, Anisul Huq, Salman F. Rahman, and others are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people, including my son.

Anisul Huq, Salman F. Rahman, and others issued the curfew upon consultation. Otherwise, my son and others would not have been killed.

I want the maximum punishment for my son’s killers. The investigating officer has questioned me. This is my deposition.

Cross-examination on behalf of present accused Anisul Huq and Salman F. Rahman:

I do not remember on which date the investigating officer questioned me. He questioned me while sitting in front of Mirpur Model Police Station at Mirpur 2.

My contention that the then head of government Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Obaidul Quader, Anisul Huq, Salman F. Rahman, and others are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people including my son. It is not true that Anisul Huq, Salman F. Rahman, and others issued the curfew upon consultation, and otherwise, my son and others would not have been killed – is true

It is not true that Anisul Huq and Salman F. Rahman are not involved in the murder.

Next date: March 3, 2026.