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Published : 07 Sep 2025, 06:32 PM
Sanjida Khan Deepti, the mother of Shahriar Khan Anas, who was shot dead at Dhaka’s Chankharpul during last year’s July Uprising, has said her body was "drenched" in blood as she took his body home.
The victim’s mother gave her testimony on Sunday in front of a three-member bench of the International Crimes Tribunal-1, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder.
She testified against eight individuals, including former Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Habibur Rahman, in a case over crimes against humanity for the killings of six people at Chankharpul during the anti-government protests in July and August last year.
Sanjida said that on the morning of Aug 5, 2024, Anas left their home in Gendaria after writing a letter that said, "Mother, I am going to a procession. If I don't return, be proud”.
"We received the news of his death at noon exactly. Later, we went to Mitford Hospital to collect his body. His father and maternal grandfather were also with me. We started for home in a rickshaw with the body. All three of our bodies got drenched in Anas's blood."
Sanjida said that local residents staged a protest demanding justice for the killing after the body was brought home.
Referring to fellow protesters Rabbi and Sourav who were with Anas, she said that on Aug 5, around 10:30am, Anas was heading to Shaheed Minar with other protesters. They were obstructed by police and other law enforcing agencies at Chankharpul.
At that time, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police started firing bullets. The protesters took shelter in various alleys, including Nawab Katra at Chankharpul, to save their lives. Anas was also there.
"At one point, a police officer shot my son. The bullet hit him in the chest, and he immediately fell. Some protesters later took him to the hospital in a rickshaw."
Sanjida said that she learned the names of those who fired the shots and those who gave the orders from witnesses and media reports.
The killings at Chankharpul – aimed at suppressing the July Uprising - was led by former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, former joint commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakrabart, and former additional deputy commissioner of Ramna Zone Shah Alam Md Akhtarul Islam, she said.
"And their instructions were executed by former assistant commissioner of the Ramna Zone Mohammad Imrul, former OC (Operations) of Shahbagh Police Station Arshad Hossain, constables Md Sujon Mia, Md Imaz Hossain Emon, and Md Nasirul Islam.
“They fired indiscriminately and so ferociously that day. Six people, including my son, were martyred at Chankharpul from their bullets.”
Anas’s mother said the masterminds of this shooting were ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former road transport minister Obaidul Quader, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, and former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.
She demanded the death penalty for the accused.
Four of the suspects in the case -- Arshad, Sujon, Imaz, and Nasirul -- were brought to the tribunal in the morning.
