Witness 6: Md. Ruhul Amin
Deposition of Ruhul Amin
My name is Md. Ruhul Amin, son of Md. Siddiqur Rahman and Moti Begum. I am 55 years old. My permanent address is Village: Nayapara, Police Station and District: Munshiganj. My present address is House No. 36, Meradia, Nayapara, Khilgaon, Dhaka.
I work as a caretaker. Until 2016, I worked as a caretaker at House No. 106, Meradia Nayapara, Khilgaon, Dhaka. At present, I am employed as a caretaker at House No. 36. Both houses belong to the same owner.
I am illiterate. On 19 July 2024, at approximately 2:30–3:00 p.m., I saw a student movement near Meradia Kacha Bazar adjacent to Rampura Police Station. I went there and observed that members of the BGB, police personnel, and Awami League members were firing upon the students. I further saw that some people had been killed by gunfire and others were lying injured. Everyone was covered in blood.
Out of fear, I started walking back towards my residence. At that time, a bullet struck me below my waist from behind and exited through the front of my body. (The witness indicates the gunshot injury mark.)After being shot, I fell onto the road. Some people took me to Mugda Medical College Hospital.
I received treatment on 19 July 2024. On the night of 20 July 2024, I was forcibly discharged from the hospital. This was because, on that day, Awami League members had allegedly threatened the doctors at the hospital, saying that those who had been shot but had not died should be killed by administering injections. I was not provided with any treatment-related documents upon discharge.
After I returned home, some Awami League members came to my residence and told me that since I had been shot, I would not be allowed to remain in the area. However, an apolitical local person assured me of support. Thereafter, I received treatment at Farazy Hospital at my own expense.
Subsequently, through Facebook and YouTube, I came to learn that BGB members Redwan and Rafat, and police officers Rashed and Mashiur had carried out the shooting.
I currently do not have the physical capability to work. I have two daughters and no sons.
(The witness makes the above statements in a voice choked with emotion.)
I seek justice against the accused persons.
The Investigating Officer has examined me.
This is my statement.
Cross-Examination on behalf of present Accused Lt. Col. Redwan
Defence: When did you provide your statement to the Investigating Officer (IO)?
PW: I gave my statement to the Investigating Officer approximately two months after the incident. I do not remember the exact date.
Defence: Which address did you provide to the Investigating Officer?
PW: I mentioned House No. 106 to the Investigating Officer. I did not mention House No. 36.
Defence: From which house did you leave to observe the student movement?
PW: I left from House No. 36 to observe the student movement. After House No. 106 had been sold, the owner transferred me to House No. 36.
Defence: What is the name of the owner of House No. 36?
PW: The owner of House No. 36 is Sirajul Islam. Later, I corrected myself and stated that I was mistaken; the owner’s name is Abdullah Omar Siraj. He was also the owner of House No. 106.
Defence: Who was the owner of House No. 106 in 2024?
PW: I do not know who the owner of House No. 106 was in 2024.
Defence: Suggestion: You provided an incorrect address to the Investigating Officer.
PW: It is not true that I provided an incorrect address to the Investigating Officer. I gave the address according to my identity card.
Defence: What is the distance between House No. 106 and Rampura Police Station?
PW: It takes approximately three minutes to walk from House No. 106 to Rampura Police Station.
Defence: What is the distance between Rampura Police Station and Meradia Kacha Bazar?
PW: It takes approximately one minute to walk from Rampura Police Station to Meradia Kacha Bazar.
Defence: What is the distance between House No. 106 and Khilgaon Police Station?
PW: The rickshaw fare from House No. 106 to Khilgaon Police Station is approximately BDT 40.
Defence: Under which police station does Meradia Kacha Bazar fall?
PW: Meradia Kacha Bazar falls under Rampura Police Station.
Defence: On which side of Meradia Kacha Bazar were you standing while observing the student movement?
PW: I was standing on the southern side of Meradia Kacha Bazar.
Defence: Were there shops near where you were standing?
PW: There were shops on both my right and left sides. The shops were closed with shutters down.
Defence: On which side of you were the demonstrators located?
PW: The demonstrators were located to my south and west.
Defence: After 5 August 2024, did you collect any treatment-related documents from Mugda Medical College Hospital?
PW: No, I did not collect any treatment-related documents from Mugda Medical College Hospital after 5 August 2024.
Defence: Did you provide the Investigating Officer with treatment-related documents from Farazy Hospital?
PW: Yes, I provided the treatment-related documents from Farazy Hospital to the Investigating Officer. I did not place any thumb impression while submitting those documents.
Defence Suggestion: You provided the Investigating Officer with an outpatient treatment document from Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
PW: Yes, I provided the Investigating Officer with an outpatient treatment document from Dhaka Medical College Hospital because I could no longer afford treatment expenses at private hospitals and therefore sought treatment there.
Defence: On what date did you go to Dhaka Medical College Hospital?
PW: I do not remember the date, but I went there at around 10:00 a.m.
Defence Suggestion: The medical document you submitted to the Investigating Officer predates 19 July 2024.
PW: It is not true that the medical document I submitted to the Investigating Officer predates 19 July 2024.
Defence Suggestion: The injury mark shown before the Tribunal today was sustained long before 19 July 2024.
PW: It is not true that the injury mark I showed before the Tribunal today was sustained long before 19 July 2024.
Defence: Can you provide the name of the local person who assured you that you could remain in the area?What does he do?
PW: The local person who assured me was my son-in-law. His name is Shamsher, and he is present before the Tribunal today. Later, I state that his brother has a grill workshop where he works.
Defence: Suggestion: Nobody took you to Mugda Hospital, nor did you receive treatment at Farazy Hospital.
PW: It is not true that nobody took me to Mugda Hospital or that I did not receive treatment at Farazy Hospital.
Defence: Did you file any case against anyone after 5 August 2024?
PW: No, I did not file any case against anyone after 5 August 2024.
Defence: Do you use an Android phone? Do you have a Facebook account?
PW: Yes, I use an Android phone and I have a Facebook account. My Facebook ID name is “Md. Ruhul Amin.”
Defence: When did you open your Facebook account?
PW: I cannot say exactly how many years ago I opened my Facebook account.
Defence: Suggestion: The statements you made regarding BGB members Redwan and Rafat are false and tutored.
PW: It is not true that my statements regarding BGB members Redwan and Rafat are false or tutored.
Defence: Suggestion: You fraudulently submitted a treatment document from Dhaka Medical College Hospital to the Investigating Officer.
PW: It is not true that I fraudulently submitted a treatment document from Dhaka Medical College Hospital to the Investigating Officer.
Cross-examination on behalf of Rafat Bin Mun by Masud Salauddin
(Cross-examination conducted on behalf of Colonel Redwan adopted.)
The witness’s gunshot entry and exit wound locations were inspected by the learned Defence Counsel and the learned Prosecutor with the permission of the Tribunal. The location of the entry wound was approximately six finger-widths below the waist, above the left buttock, appearing as a dark hole-like mark, and the exit wound was located at the upper portion of the left thigh, bearing a longitudinal dark scar.
Defence: Suggestion: The alleged entry and exit wound marks are in fact scars caused by boils.
PW: It is not true that the said marks of the gunshot entry and exit wounds are boil scars.
Defence: Suggestion: These are not gunshot injury marks.
PW: It is not true that these are not gunshot marks.
Defence: What led you to believe that the persons in Mugda Hospital were affiliated with the Awami League?
PW: At Mugda Hospital, two people told the doctors that, “They were shot but did not die — kill them with injections.” I believed them to be affiliated with the Awami League, because no one else would be expected to make such remarks.
Defence: Is your name included in the Gazette as a July fighter, and do you receive any allowance?
PW: Yes, my name appears in the Gazette as a July fighter, and I receive a regular allowance.
Defence: Suggestion: You fabricated the story of being shot in order to receive the allowance.
PW: It is not true that I fabricated the story of being shot in order to receive the allowance.
Cross-Examination on behalf of Absconding Accused Md. Rashedul Islam and Md. Mashiur
(All previous cross-examinations adopted.)
Defence: Suggestion: You did not state before the Investigating Officer that on that day, Awami League members had allegedly threatened the doctors at the hospital, saying that those who had been shot but had not died should be killed by administering injections.
PW: Yes, on that day I did not tell the Investigation Officer that on that day, Awami League members had allegedly threatened the doctors at the hospital, saying that those who had been shot but had not died should be killed by administering injections.
Defence: Suggestion: You did not state before the Investigating Officer that an apolitical local person assured me of support.
PW: It is not true that I did not state before the Investigating Officer that an apolitical local person assured me of support.
Defence: Suggestion:You did not state before the Investigating Officer that you do not have the physical capability to perform any work. I have two daughters and no sons.
PW: Yes, I do not have the physical capability to perform any work. I have two daughters and no sons.
Defence: Did you hand over the clothes you were wearing at the time you sustained the gunshot injury to the Investigation Officer?
PW: The clothes I was wearing at the time I sustained the gunshot injury were not provided to the Investigation Officer because he did not ask for them. However, I provided photographs of my gunshot injuries to the Investigation Officer.
Defence: Suggestion: You gave false testimony regarding Police Officer Rashed and OC Mashiur.
PW: It is not true that I gave false testimony regarding Police Officer Rashed and OC Mashiur.