Witness 2: Md. Foysal
Evidence given by Md. Foysal
My name is Md. Foysal. My father’s name is [redacted]. I am 32 years old. My address is: [redacted] Barishal. I am engaged in the event management business.
On 16 July, I, along with my nephew Maruf Hossain, joined the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.On 17 July, we participated in a peaceful protest program at Aftabnagar Gate. On 18 July, while we were peacefully demonstrating in front of East West University, police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Awami League, Chhatra League, and Jubo League members attacked us. In that attack, many students involved in the movement were injured and killed. From approximately 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, RAB helicopters fired tear gas shells, sound grenades, and live ammunition at protesters in front of BRAC University.
On 19 July at around 10:30 AM, I joined the movement under the U-loop at the head of Badda Post Office Road. At approximately 11:00 AM, Maruf called me and asked me to go to the front of BRAC University. There, I saw a person lying on the ground with gunshot injuries. Along with my friends and Maruf, I took him to a nearby hospital. Shortly afterward, Maruf and I returned to our respective homes to attend Friday prayers.
At around 3:30 PM, Maruf again called me and asked me to go to the main road, informing me that he was going to join the movement. A little later, he called me from in front of BRAC University and asked me to come there. When I arrived, I saw Maruf standing on the opposite side of the university, at the head of Thana Road. I went and stood beside him. At that time, we heard gunshots coming from the direction of Rampura Bridge. Police, BGB, and armed members of the Awami League were positioned there.
Rajib was also present with us at that time. Upon hearing gunfire, I ran northwards approximately 50 yards. Shortly thereafter, my friend Rajib called me and informed me that Maruf had been shot. I rushed back to Maruf. He said to me, “Uncle, please save me.” I saw that he had been shot on the right side of his lower abdomen.
We took Maruf in an ambulance to AMZ Hospital, where he received primary treatment. Due to his critical condition, he was referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. While we were transporting him by ambulance, police, BGB, and Awami League members stopped us on Rampura Bridge. After repeated requests, they allowed us to proceed after about 10–15 minutes. During this time, a BGB member pointed a gun at me and said, “One is already finished, will finish you as well.”
We reached Dhaka Medical College Hospital at approximately 7:20 PM, where the attending doctor declared him dead and stated that he had died 15–20 minutes earlier. When asked about my relationship, I informed them accordingly.
I informed Maruf’s father over the phone, and he arrived at the hospital around 8:00 PM. When we requested to take the body, we were told that it could not be released without police clearance. At around 12:00 midnight, we went to Badda Police Station for clearance, but the Officer-in-Charge refused to provide it. Upon learning that we had come for police clearance, local Chhatra League members attacked us. Despite repeated attempts, we did not receive clearance, and we were told that the place of occurrence did not fall under the jurisdiction of Badda Police Station.
On 21 July at around 12:00 PM, we finally obtained police clearance from Rampura Police Station. At approximately 3:00 PM that day, we received the body from Dhaka Medical College Hospital and buried Maruf at Badda graveyard at around 5:00 PM.
In order to suppress our legitimate and justified movement, my nephew Maruf was killed under the direction of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Obaidul Quader, and other influential ministers, carried out by overzealous members of the police, BGB, Awami League, and Chhatra League.
Subsequently, through various media reports, I came to know that BGB Commander Lt. Colonel Redwan, Rafat, ADC Rashed, the Officer-in-Charge of Rampura Police Station Mashiur, and Awami League operative Babul were involved in multiple killings, including the killing of my nephew Maruf at the scene.
I seek exemplary punishment for the accused persons.
The Investigating Officer has examined me.
This is my statement.
Cross-Examination on behalf of present Accused Lt. Col. Redwan
Defence: What is your relation to Maruf? Can you state his phone number?
PW: Maruf is my sister’s son. His mobile numbers are [redacted]. Later, I stated that it might be 76 instead of 86.
Defence: Did the Investigating Officer seize your phone and Maruf’s phone
PW: The Investigating Officer did not take either my phone or Maruf’s phone.
Defence: Do you know the distance between BRAC University and Rampura Bridge
PW: It takes approximately 2 minutes to walk from BRAC University to Rampura Bridge. I do not know whether the distance is half a kilometer.
Defence: Did you collect any documents regarding Maruf’s primary treatment from AMZ Hospital?
PW: I did not collect any documents regarding Maruf’s primary treatment from AMZ Hospital.
Defence: At approximately what time did you leave AMZ Hospital for Dhaka Medical College Hospital?
PW: We left AMZ Hospital at around 6:30 PM for Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Defence: Did you inform anyone by phone about Maruf being shot?
PW: I informed my sister by phone.
Defence: Can you mention the time?
PW: I do not remember the exact time, but it was before 6:30 PM.
Defence: You have falsely stated that your ambulance was stopped at Rampura Bridge.
PW: It is not true that I have falsely stated that our ambulance was stopped at Rampura Bridge.
Defence: Did you collect Maruf’s death certificate from Dhaka Medical College Hospital?
PW: Yes, I collected the death certificate. Maruf’s father received the body in writing.
Defence: Did you file any case regarding Maruf’s death?
PW: As per police advice, a General Diary was filed at Rampura Police Station. Police clearance was then issued. A post-mortem was conducted. No case was filed.
Defence: You did not take Maruf to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and the body was treated as unclaimed.
PW: It is not true that I did not take Maruf to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and the body was treated as unclaimed.
Defence: On 19 July 2024, Maruf left home and was later found as an unclaimed body in the morgue.
PW: It is not true that on 19 July 2024, Maruf left home and was later found as an unclaimed body in the morgue.
Defence: Maruf did not die as you described.
PW: It is not true that Maruf did not die as you described .
Defence: You are giving false information as instructed.
PW: It is not true that giving false information as instructed.
Cross-Examination on behalf of Major Refat Bin Mun
PW: During the previous regime, I was a victim of attacks by the Awami League government. I do not know whether Maruf or his family were attacked.
Defence: Are you involved in politics?
PW: I am not involved in politics.
Defence: What is the distance from the Post Office to BRAC University and Rampura Bridge?
PW: The U-loop is at the entrance of the Post Office lane. The distance to BRAC University is less than half a kilometer. The distance to Rampura Bridge is approximately 1 kilometer.
PW: It is not true that no attack took place on 18 July or that no injuries or deaths occurred, or that no firing took place from helicopters.
Defence: On that day did any vehicles move from Abul Hotel to Pragati Sarani.
PW: On that day, no vehicles moved from Abul Hotel to Pragati Sarani.
Defence: Do you know about any arson at the BTV Center or attacks on BGB vehicles or hostage-taking?
PW: I do not know.
Defence: What do your brother in law do?
PW: My brother-in-law is engaged in event management.
Defence: Was Rajib known to Maruf?
PW: Yes. Rajib knew Maruf. Maruf’s family lived in his house as tenants for seven years.
Defence: You do not know whose bullet killed Maruf.
PW: It is not true that I do not know whose bullet killed Maruf.
[Note:In this reply PW said that at first he he actually did not know who shot Maruf but later after from the social media news and videos he came to know that Colonel Redwan shoot Maruf. But this reply has not been added in the records. But state defence counsel that time did not prayed for adding it in records.]
Defence: What was Maruf wearing?
PW: He was wearing trousers and a T-shirt. After he was shot, we removed them and tied them around the wound to stop bleeding. He was also wearing shorts.
Defence: You falsely stated that you tied his clothes around the wound.
PW: It is not true that I falsely stated that I tied his clothes around the wound.
Defence: There was no presence of BGB in the area.
PW: It is not true that there was no presence of BGB in the area.
Defence: I did not state before the Investigating Officer that a BGB member threatened me.
PW: It is not true that I did not state before the Investigating Officer that a BGB member threatened me.
Defence: You falsely stated that the vehicle was released after requests.
PW: It is not true.
Defence: The accused’s name was not mentioned in the General Diary.
PW: Yes, it is true.
Defence: Maruf did not die from BGB gunfire.
PW: It is not true that Maruf did not die from BGB gunfire.
Defence: You gave false information as instructed.
PW: It is not true that I gave false information as instructed.
Cross-Examination on behalf of Absconding Accused Md. Rashedul Islam and Md. Mashiur
Previous Cross Examination has been adopted.
Defence: There was no police presence at Rampura Bridge on 19 July 2024.
PW: It is not true that there was no police presence at Rampura Bridge on 19 July 2024.
Defence: You falsely stated that Maruf was killed under the direction of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Obaidul Quader, and other influential ministers, carried out by overzealous members of the police, BGB, Awami League, and Chhatra League.
PW: It is not true that I falsely stated that Maruf was killed under the direction of the direction of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Obaidul Quader, and other influential ministers, carried out by overzealous members of the police, BGB, Awami League, and Chhatra League.
Defence: Maruf did not die from police gunfire.
PW: It is true that he did not die from police gunfire. He died from BGB gunfire.
[Note:During the cross examination in favour of the police, the PW confirmation that police didn’t shot Maruf triggered significant discussion as this statement indicated that if police didn’t shoot Maruf then it only left BGB. Then Colonel Redwan raised objection that what PW was saying has not been included in record properly. Then the Tribunal stated that at the timme when this objection could be raised, the state defence counsel didn’t pray for it. Now it can’t be added.]