Witness 7: Saifur Rahman
Deposition of Saifur Rahman
My name is Saifur Rahman. I am 48 years old. My father, [redacted]. My permanent address is [redacted] District: Faridpur. My present address is House No. 7, Road No. 3, Block-G, Banasree, Police Station: Khilgaon, Dhaka.
I am a contractor by profession. On Friday, 19 July 2024, after offering Jummah prayers, I returned home and had lunch. Thereafter, I heard sounds of gunfire, sound grenades, and public demonstrations outside. My residence is located beside the road.
I then came out of my residence and walked towards Banasree FG Avenue Road. Upon reaching the main road, I saw a group of police and BGB personnel proceeding from the direction of Rampura Bridge towards Rampura Police Station. Vehicles were moving in front of them while police and BGB members were walking behind.
I observed sound grenades being thrown and heard gunfire from the front. The police and BGB personnel were both throwing sound grenades and firing shots. Student demonstrators and members of the public were in front of them, and the firing appeared to be directed at clearing the road.
When they reached in front of G-Block, I moved inside a lane. They then proceeded towards Rampura Police Station. Approximately 30–40 minutes later, the police and BGB personnel returned from Rampura Police Station towards Rampura Bridge.
The students and members of the public had blocked the main road along FG Avenue with stones, banana trees, debris, and corrugated sheets. Police vehicles were positioned in front and BGB vehicles were behind them. Police personnel got down from the vehicles and cleared the road.
Thereafter, approximately seven to eight BGB members got down from their vehicles and advanced towards Avenue Road while firing at the students and members of the public. Two or three BGB members fired in the direction of Road No. 1 of F-Block.
During the period when the BGB and police personnel were advancing towards Rampura Bridge, I was moving around Avenue Road and the main road. During the time of gunfire, I took shelter behind an under-construction building in F-Block. From there, I saw BGB personnel firing from the western side.
From behind a pillar, I observed firing continuing for approximately three to four minutes. After the BGB members ceased firing and left the area, I came out from behind the pillar and moved towards the east.
While proceeding, I saw three to four injured persons who had sustained gunshot injuries. I was not in a condition to determine whether they were known to me. Later that night, I came to know that among those injured persons, one was Ashik and another was Tamim.
I knew Ashik because his mother’s tailoring shop was located opposite my residence, and Ashik occasionally sat there. He also occasionally delivered clothes to my residence.
After coming out from behind the pillar, I returned home and rested for approximately 20–25 minutes. Thereafter, I again went outside to see whether any of my relatives had been injured or killed.
While outside, I saw an injured person lying beneath House No. 1 on Road No. 3. He had sustained gunshot injuries.Thereafter, I went to Farazy Hospital and Advance Hospital. The two hospitals are situated adjacent to one another and are close to my residence. It takes approximately four to five minutes to reach them on foot from my residence.
At the hospitals, I observed approximately 25–30 gunshot victims in each hospitals.Later I said I observed approximately 25–30 gunshot victims in total across both hospitals. I further observed that there were approximately seven to eight deceased persons in the two hospitals combined. Their entire bodies had been covered with cloth.
Thereafter, at around 5:00 p.m., I returned home from the hospital.
After 8:00 p.m. that night, Ashik’s mother called my wife and informed her that Ashik could not be found. My wife informed me of this. Later, at approximately 10:00 p.m., I came to know that Ashik’s dead body had been found at Advance Hospital.
Subsequently, through social media, I came to learn that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman, the former Inspector General of Police, BGB officer Redwan, Major Rafat, ADC Rashedul, and OC Mashiur, who were leading operations in the Banasree area, were responsible for the incident.
I seek justice against them.
The Investigating Officer questioned me.
Among those who died on that day were Russell, Tamim, Ashik, Maruf, Mosleh Uddin, and three to four other persons.”
This is my statement.
Cross-Examination on behalf of present Accused Lt. Col. Redwan
Defence Suggestion: You did not state before the Investigating Officer that after returning home following Jummah prayers and having lunch, you heard sounds of gunfire, sound grenades, and public demonstrations, and then proceeded towards Banasree FG Avenue Road.
PW: It is not true that I did not make such a statement before the Investigating Officer.
Defence Suggestion:You did not state before the Investigating Officer that upon reaching the main road, you saw a group of police and BGB personnel proceeding from the direction of Rampura Bridge towards Rampura Police Station. Vehicles were moving in front of them while police and BGB members were walking behind.You observed sound grenades being thrown and heard gunfire from the front. The police and BGB personnel were both throwing sound grenades and firing shots. Student demonstrators and members of the public were in front of them, and the firing appeared to be directed at clearing the road.
PW: It is not true that I did not make such a statement before the Investigating Officer.
Defence Suggestion: You did not state before the Investigating Officer “ When they reached in front of G-Block, I moved inside a lane. They then proceeded towards Rampura Police Station. Approximately 30–40 minutes later, the police and BGB personnel returned from Rampura Police Station towards Rampura Bridge.The students and members of the public had blocked the main road along FG Avenue with stones, banana trees, debris, and corrugated sheets. Police vehicles were positioned in front and BGB vehicles were behind them. Police personnel got down from the vehicles and cleared the road.Thereafter, approximately seven to eight BGB members got down from their vehicles and advanced towards Avenue Road while firing at the students and members of the public. Two or three BGB members fired in the direction of Road No. 1 of F-Block.During the period when the BGB and police personnel were advancing towards Rampura Bridge, I was moving around Avenue Road and the main road. During the time of gunfire, I took shelter behind an under-construction building in F-Block. From there, I saw BGB personnel firing from the western side.From behind a pillar, I observed firing continuing for approximately three to four minutes. After the BGB members ceased firing and left the area, I I came out from behind the pillar and moved towards the east.While proceeding, I saw three to four injured persons who had sustained gunshot injuries. I was not in a condition to determine whether they were known to me. Later that night, I came to know that among those injured persons, one was Ashik and another was Tamim.I knew Ashik because his mother’s tailoring shop was located opposite my residence, and Ashik occasionally sat there. He also occasionally delivered clothes to my residence.”
PW: It is not true that I did not make such a statement before the Investigating Officer.
Defence Suggestion: You did not state before the Investigating Officer that you later visited the hospitals and observed injured and deceased persons there.
PW: It is not true that I did not make such a statement before the Investigating Officer.
Defence Suggestion: You did not state before the Investigating Officer that Ashik’s body was later found at Advance Hospital.
PW: It is not true that I did not make such a statement before the Investigating Officer.
Defence Suggestion: You did not state before the Investigating Officer that you later learned through social media about the involvement of Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman, the former IGP, Redwan, Major Rafat, ADC Rashedul, and OC Mashiur.
PW: It is not true that I did not make such a statement before the Investigating Officer.
Defence: Since when have you been residing in the Banasree area?
PW: I have been residing in the Banasree area since 2001.
Defence: What is your profession?
PW: I work as a contractor in the electricity sector.
Defence: Do you possess a contractor’s licence?
PW: Yes, I possess a contractor’s licence. The licensing board of the electricity sector issued that certificate to me.
Defence: When did you obtain your licence certificate?
PW: I obtained that certificate in 2007. It is a first-category certificate.
Defence: How many projects have you completed between 2007 and 2024?
PW: I do not remember how many projects I completed between 2007 and 2024.
[15 minutes missing section]