Witness 1: Shahidul Islam Bhuiyan

Evidence given by Shahidul Islam Bhuiyan

Prosecution: Please tell the Court what statement you have come to give

Name: Shahidul Islam Bhuiyan
Age: 54
Father/Mother: [redacted]
Permanent Address: [redacted] District: Narayanganj.
Present Address: [redacteed] Dhaka.

I am Shahidul Islam Bhuiyan. My only son is Muhammad Farhanul Islam Bhuiyan, alias Farhan Faiyaz. He was a student of Class XI, Science Group, at Dhaka Residential Model College. On 18 July 2024, at around 10:00 a.m., he left home and went to his college. From there, along with his friends, he participated in the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and, together with a procession, took position at Dhanmondi (Old) Road No. 27 via Manik Mia Avenue. They were unarmed. They did not have any sticks or other weapons in their hands. They had participated peacefully in the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. But at that time, the police force of the then fascist government and the Awami terrorist force attacked them. At one stage, with the assistance of the police, the Awami terrorist force indiscriminately opened fire on the students. It is with great sorrow that I state that one of those bullets entered the middle of the chest of my only son. At that time, it was approximately 2:30 p.m. A guardian from the scene telephoned me and informed me that Farhan had been shot. At that time, I was at my office in Malibagh. Upon hearing the news that my only son had been shot, I almost lost my senses. I immediately came down from my office and set out for Dhanmondi Road No. 27. On the way, I went to my residence at Kakrail Circuit House Road, informed my wife and daughter about the incident, and then set out for Dhanmondi Road No. 27. Although I wanted to take my wife and daughter with me, I could not do so because of the horrific situation. There was no transport on the roads. I covered part of the way on foot, part of the way by running, and part of the way by rickshaw. While I was on my way to Dhanmondi Road No. 27, I received another phone call from Faiyaz’s friends informing me that they were taking my son to Lalmatia City Hospital and asked me to go there as well. Before going to City Hospital, I telephoned Farhan’s maternal uncle, Mizanur Rahman, whose residence is in Mohammadpur. Before I reached the hospital, his maternal uncle had already reached the hospital with his wife. When I reached the hospital, I saw the horrific condition of the hospital. Many students, covered in blood and injured, were crying in pain in the hospital. I then went to the ICU and saw that Farhan had a mask on his face. I stood there praying to Allah. At one stage, the doctor removed the mask from his face and covered his face with a cloth. Then I understood that my son was no more. The death certificate issued by the hospital authorities stated that he had died at the scene. Upon receiving the news, many guardians, his school’s Principal, and many teachers came to the hospital and requested me to arrange a funeral prayer at the college field. I then agreed. But the hospital was surrounded by Awami terrorists and the police in such a manner that it was not possible to come out. In order to prevent people from joining the movement, sound grenades, arson, and tear shells were being used at that time. They were not allowing the injured children to receive proper treatment. With great difficulty, we took Farhan’s body through the back gate to Al Markazul Ulama Burial Centre, where his ghusl was completed. From there, we took him to the field of Dhaka Residential Model College. There, at 5:30 p.m., his first funeral prayer was held. After the funeral prayer, we set out for our village home at Barpa with Farhan’s body in a freezer vehicle. On the way, my wife and daughter set out from Kakrail Circuit House Road in another microbus. First, we faced obstruction from the police and Awami terrorist force at Kakrail intersection. The second time, we faced obstruction from the Awami terrorist force at Jatrabari intersection. The glass of our vehicle was vandalized. With great difficulty, we were able to proceed. They probably wanted to take away his body. After reaching our village home with the body, the local Awami force there gave us only 40 minutes to bury the body. At approximately 9:00 p.m., his funeral prayer was completed, and he was buried at the Barpa Social Graveyard.

I demand punishment for those who are responsible for the death of my only son. The persons whom I have accused are those whom I saw through various social media, video footage, and newspapers after the incident on that day, and whose names I came to know. I also came to know, through those who were with Farhan in the movement, who had carried out this massacre.

1. 1. Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation;
   2. Jahangir Kabir Nanak, former Minister of Textiles and Jute;
   3. Habibur Rahman, DMP Commissioner;
   4. Proloy Kumar Joarder, Additional DIG;
   5. Biplob Kumar Sarker, Joint Commissioner;
   6. Rowshanul Haque Shaikat, ADC of Mohammadpur Zone;
   7. Sheikh Bazlur Rahman, President of Awami League, Dhaka North;
   8. M. A. Sattar, President of Mohammadpur Thana Awami League;
   9. Tofail Ahmed;
   10. Mohammad Ismail Hossain;
   11. Syed Hasan Noor Rashtron;
   12. Ismail Hossain;
   13. Mohammad Masudur Rahman Biplob;
   14. Fazle Rabbi;
   15. Ahad Hasan, along with another 5/7 unidentified persons whose names I do not remember at this moment.

All of them had opened fire on that day, as seen in various video footages.

The Investigating Officer has interrogated me. This is my statement

Cross-examination by the learned counsel, Mr. Mohammad Shahinur Rahman, on behalf of the present accused, Naimul Hasan Rasel

It took me four to five minutes to reach my residence from my workplace at Malibagh Mor. I received the phone call while I was on my way, after crossing Science Lab Intersection. On that day, I did not go to Dhanmondi Road No. 27. I do not remember which guardian informed me over the phone that my son had been shot. The doctor removed my son’s oxygen mask three to four minutes after I reached the hospital.

It is not true that Farhan’s maternal uncle, Mizanur Rahman, and his wife had not reached the hospital before I arrived there.

It is not true that I have falsely stated that I witnessed a horrific situation at the hospital after I arrived there.

It is not true that the death certificate issued by the hospital authorities did not state that my son had died at the scene.

I provided the Investigating Officer with the videos and newspaper reports through which I came to know the names of the accused.

Yes, I made statements to various media outlets and newspapers regarding the death of my son; however, at that time, I did not mention the names of these accused persons to the media or newspapers. Rather, I demanded justice for all those who were responsible.

I do not know whether the then Government formed a judicial inquiry commission regarding my son and the others who were injured during the movement.

I went to the then Prime Minister’s Office on 28 July because I was compelled to do so. By that day, approximately 400 people had died. Out of them, only about 30 to 32 people were called to the Prime Minister’s Office and were offered financial assistance. However, as a mark of protest, I did not accept that assistance.

It is not true that I have falsely stated that, “On 18 July 2024, at 10:00 a.m., he left home and went to his college. From there, along with his friends, he participated in the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and, together with a procession, took position at Dhanmondi (Old) Road No. 27 via Manik Mia Avenue. They were unarmed and did not have any sticks or other weapons in their hands.”

It is not true that I have falsely stated the place where my son was shot at that time.

It is not true that my son was shot elsewhere and was thereafter brought to City Hospital.

It is not true that I have given false evidence.

Cross-examination by the learned counsel, Mr. Mohammad Mohiuddin, on behalf of the present accused Fazle Rabbi.

At approximately 2:30 p.m., I received the news that my son had been shot. I cannot say the distance between my workplace and Dhanmondi Road No. 27. It may have been approximately five to six kilometres. I do not remember whether I provided the Investigating Officer with the phone number from which I received the call informing me that my son had been shot. The guardian who called me and informed me that Farhan had been shot was not previously known to me.

I do not remember the date on which I gave my statement to the Investigating Officer.

I do not exactly remember when I reached the hospital. It took about one to one and a half hours. After reaching the hospital, I saw the place on my son’s body where he had been shot. My son had sustained one gunshot wound to his chest. I cannot say whether the doctors at the hospital removed the bullet from my son’s chest. I do not know what type of bullet caused my son’s death. I do not know from what type of weapon the bullet was fired.

On that day, I received my son’s body from the hospital before the Asar prayer.

I returned to Dhaka probably three days after burying my son. I visited the place where my son had been shot together with the Investigating Officer of the case. My daughter and Farhan’s maternal aunt, Sajia Khan, were also with me.

No post-mortem examination or inquest report was conducted on my son’s body at the hospital. I did not see any video showing my son being shot. However, I saw in videos and newspapers those who had opened fire there on that day.

It is not true that there is no video or newspaper footage directly showing this accused shooting my son.

It is not true that my son died as a result of being struck by a rubber bullet.

It is not true that this accused did not shoot my son.

I did not know this accused previously.

It is not true that I have given false evidence. It is not true that I have given evidence as tutored.

In the afternoon only Mr. Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Mozumder, Chairman was present

Cross-examination by the learned counsel, Mr. Asaduzzaman, on behalf of the present accused, Omar Faruk.
Cross-examination declined.

Cross-examination by the learned counsel, Mr. Mohammad Abul Hasan, on behalf of the present accused, Sajjad Hossain.
Cross-examination declined.

Cross-examination by the learned State Defence Counsel, Mr. Mohammad Abul Hasan, on behalf of the absconding accused, Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Habibur Rahman, Syed Hasan Noor Islam Rashtron, Ahad Hossain Sohag, and Asif Ahmed.
Cross-examination on behalf of the accused Asif Ahmed – Declined.

(All previous cross-examinations adopted.)

It is not true that I have falsely stated, “First, on the way, we were obstructed by the police and the Awami terrorist force at Kakrail Intersection. The second time, we were obstructed by the Awami terrorist force at Jatrabari Intersection. The glass of our vehicle was smashed. We managed to proceed with great difficulty. They probably intended to take away his dead body. After we reached our village home with the dead body, the local Awami force there allowed us only 40 minutes to bury the dead body.”

It is not true that I did not see these accused or their names in the videos or newspapers.

It is not true that I have given evidence as tutored.

Cross-examination by the learned State Defence Counsel, Mr. Amir Hossain, on behalf of the absconding accused, Mohammad Tofayel Siddique alias Tuhin, Md. Ismail Hossain, Mohammad Arifur Rahman alias Tuhin, Tarekuzzaman Rajib, Md. Masudur Rahman Biplob, and Zahir Uddin Ahmed alias Bichchu Jalal.

It is not true that I have falsely stated, “From there, along with his friends, he participated in the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and, together with a procession, took position at Dhanmondi (Old) Road No. 27 via Manik Mia Avenue. They were unarmed. They did not have any sticks or other weapons in their hands.”

It is not true that I did not state to the Investigation Officer, “They had participated peacefully in the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. But at that time, the police force of the then fascist government and the Awami terrorist force attacked them. At one stage, with the assistance of the police, the Awami terrorist force indiscriminately opened fire on the students. It is with great sorrow that I state that one of those bullets entered the middle of the chest of my only son. At that time, it was approximately 2:30 p.m.”

I do not remember whether I stated to the Investigator Officer that, “When I reached the hospital, I saw the horrific condition of the hospital. Many students, covered in blood and injured, were crying in pain in the hospital. I then went to the ICU and saw that Farhan had a mask on his face. I stood there praying to Allah. At one stage, the doctor removed the mask from his face and covered his face with a cloth. Then I understood that my son was no more. The death certificate issued by the hospital authorities stated that he had died at the scene.”

It is not true that I did not state to the Investigation Officer, “Upon receiving the news, many guardians, his school’s Principal, and many teachers came to the hospital and requested me to arrange a funeral prayer at the college field. I then agreed. But the hospital was surrounded by Awami terrorists and the police in such a manner that it was not possible to come out. In order to prevent people from joining the movement, sound grenades, arson, and tear shells were being used at that time. They were not allowing the injured children to receive proper treatment. With great difficulty, we took Farhan’s body through the back gate to Al Markazul Ulama Burial Centre, where his ghusl was completed. From there, we took him to the field of Dhaka Residential Model College. There, at 5:30 p.m., his first funeral prayer was held.”

At that time, I could not identify the police officers or the Awami terrorists who had surrounded the hospital. However, I was able to identify them later through the media and newspapers. I do not remember whether I saw nameplates on the police officers’ uniforms.

It is not true that I have falsely stated, “First, on the way, we were obstructed by the police and the Awami terrorist force at Kakrail Intersection. The second time, we were obstructed by the Awami terrorist force at Jatrabari Intersection. The glass of our vehicle was smashed. We managed to proceed with great difficulty. They probably intended to take away his dead body. After we reached our village home with the dead body, the local Awami force there allowed us only 40 minutes to bury the dead body.”

It is not true that I did not come to know about the accused through the media and newspapers.

It is not true that these accused were not involved in the murder of my son, Farhan Faiyaz.

It is not true that the accused are innocent.

It is not true that I have given evidence as tutored. It is not true that I have given false evidence.

Cross-examination by the learned State Defence Counsel, Mr. M. Hasan Imam, on behalf of the absconding accused, Proloy Kumar Joardder, Biplob Kumar Sarker, Mohammad Rowshanul Haque Shaikat, Sheikh Bazlur Rahman, Azizul Haque Rana, and M. A. Sattar. Previous cross-examinations adopted.

Witness: It is not true that the Awami terrorist force, with the assistance of the police, did not open fire on the protesting students.

It is not true that these accused did not shoot my son.

It is not true that I have given false evidence.

Cross-examination by the learned State Defence Counsel, Mr. Sheikh Mustavi Hasan, on behalf of the absconding accused, Riaz Mahmud Hridoy, Aiman Wasif alias Omik, Md. Yunus, Md. Sentu alias Nur Md. Sentu, Mohammad Mainul Islam alias Palash, and Mohammad Rubel Hossain alias Molla Rubel.

Cross-examination declined.

Next date: 23/07/26)