Witness 9: S.K. Liton
Deposition of S.K. Liton
Name: Md. Liton Mia @ S.K. Liton
Age: 36
Permanent Address: [redacted] District: Mymensingh.
Present Address: [redacated] Dhaka.
From the beginning of July 2024, students had been protesting demanding the abolition of the quota system. Wherever the students held protests, leaders and activists of the Chhatra League, Jubo League, and Awami League carried out armed attacks on the protesters. On 16 July 2024, Abu Sayeed was shot dead by the police in Rangpur. On the same day, Shaheed and Wasim were also shot dead by the police in Chattogram. Prior to that, members of the Chhatra League, Jubo League, and the police had attacked our sisters at the University of Dhaka. I saw these incidents through various news media.
On Friday, 19 July 2024, I offered Jumma prayers at Banasree Ideal Central Jame Mosque. After the prayers, instead of returning home, I joined the protesters along with the people of our locality. We were proceeding towards Rampura Bridge. After reaching Shanta Tower, the police and BGB started firing towards us from the direction of Rampura Bridge. At that time, a boy who was beside us, approximately 13 years of age, namely Tamim Shikder, was struck by a bullet in his chest, which exited through his back. Tamim was from my locality, and I knew him for that reason. Along with others, I lifted him into an auto-rickshaw. From there, he was taken to Banasree Advance Hospital. A short while later, I came to know that the boy had died.
While I was standing in front of Shanta Tower, a person named Jan Sharif was providing us with drinking water. Jan Sharif was previously known to me. Later, I came to know that he had also been killed by police and BGB gunfire.
I came to know that 28 people were killed in the Rampura area on 19 July 2024. Hundreds more were injured. Among the injured, I know Nasir, Monir Hossain, Kamrul, and Mizan. Among the deceased were Hafez Moslem Uddin, Sagar Ashik, and many others.
On that day, both my wife and I were injured by gunfire from the police and BGB. We received treatment at Aftabnagar Nagarik Clinic.
ADC Rashed of Khilgaon Zone, OC Mashiur of Rampura Police Station, Lieutenant Colonel Redwan, Major Rafat, along with the police and BGB, continued firing from Rampura Bridge up to Rampura Police Station, and they fired on every avenue road. I saw Lieutenant Colonel Redwan and Major Rafat in The Daily Star and on social media, and I came to identify them as the persons who had been firing on that day. On that day, tear shells and sound grenades were also being fired from helicopters in the sky.
I seek the exemplary maximum punishment for those responsible for the killings and the shooting that caused deaths and injuries on that day.
The Investigating Officer has interrogated me. This is my statement.
Cross-examination by the learned counsel, Mr. Md. Manzur Alam, on behalf of the present accused, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Redwanul Islam and Major Rafat Bin Mun.
My name in my National Identity Card is Md. Liton Mia. My present address is House No. 23, Road A, Block E, Rampura Banasree, Dhaka where I live in a rented house. I studied up to Class 7. I work as a supplier of stone and sand. I did not have any permanent office for my business.
(Next date: 27.07.26)