Testimony of SI Md Anisur Rahman

My name is SI Md Anisur Rahman. My father’s name is late XXX, and my mother’s name is XX. I am 57 years old. My address is XXX District Mymensingh. By profession, I am currently working as a library preservation officer at the investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka. On March 1, 2025, at 1:35 PM, the investigating officer of this case, Mr. Mohammad Ruhul Amin, PPM, presented the seized items listed below at the library of the investigation agency, in my presence:

• • The ninth volume of the book published by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, titled “July 2024 Revolution’s Martyrs’ Memorial: Those Who Are the Martyrs of the Second Independence” (with relevant pages 28-32).

• • From the newspaper published by Ahmed Faiz’s Adarsha, the book titled “July Uprising: The First Page of 25 Leading Dailies” (with relevant pages 16, 21, 23-47, 58, 59, 70, 73, 300, 304, 325, 349, 342, 351, 430, 443, 450, 470, 527 and 562).

• • A book published by Inquilab Mancha titled “July Graffiti and Rhymes Collection.” (with relevant pages 7-11, 17-25, 55, 116, 156, 161, 166, 167 and 171).

The above-mentioned items are seized.

This is the seizure list (showing). My signature is on the seizure list, which are respectively marked as exhibit 8 and 8A. The seizure list was prepared in front of Mohammad Masud Rana, and he signed the said seizure list in my presence.

This is his signature, which is marked as exhibit 8B. The 3 seized items were given into my custody on the same date. This is the custody deed and my signature on it, which are respectively marked as exhibit 9 and 9A.

These are the three seized items, exhibit items- II, III and IV.

On April 15, 2025, at 11:15 AM, the investigating officer of this case seized the following items based on the seizure list in my presence at the library of the investigation agency:

• • Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Ministry of Liberation War Affairs Gazette and Publication Branch Proclamation Date: 21st Magh, 1431 BS or 15th January 2025 AD No. 48.00.0000.043.37.243.2025.33, containing pages 235 to 313 and serial numbers from 1 to 834, the list of martyrs of the July Mass Uprising 2024 has been gazetted. The cover page of the martyrs’ gazette, page 367, and the last page, totaling three pages. On page 267 of the said gazette, the name of martyr Abu Sayed is enlisted.

• • Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Ministry of Liberation War Affairs Gazette and Publication Branch Proclamation Date: 19th Falgun, 1431 BS or 4th March, 2025 AD No. 48.00.0000.04.37.002.02025.34, containing pages 2183 to 2285, and serial numbers from 1 to 1315, the gazetted list of the injured “July Warriors” from the July Mass Uprising 2024 has been published. The cover page of the injured’s gazette, pages 2210, 2256, 2269, 2271, and 2285, for a total of six pages in which the names of the victims are enlisted.

• • United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) website: www.ohchr.org, published on February 12, 2025, titled “UN HR Office Fact-Finding Report: Human Rights Violation and Abuses related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh” is a 146-page comprehensive report on crimes against humanity committed by the Sheikh Hasina government during the quota reform and anti-discrimination movement from July to August 2024, including the cover page (2 pages);
  • pages 5 to 6 (Article 32 to 37)
  • page 13 (Article 66)
  • pages 19 to 24 (Article 101 and 102)
  • page 29 (Article 113)
  • pages 42 to 43 (Article 153 and 159)
  • page 49 (Article 191 to 192)
  • pages 91-92 (Article 209)
  • pages 58 to 59 (Article 247 and 250)
  • page 63 (Article 270, 272, and 274)
  • pages 66 to 67 (Article 292) and the last page, for a total of 23 pages, which contain information on crimes against humanity, including the murder of Abu Sayed, unlawful use of force, obstruction of medical treatment, threats, unauthorized use of arms, and violations of human rights.

• • A report published in January 2025 by the Tech Global Institute International Truth and Justice Project, titled “Bloodshed in Bangladesh,” concerning crimes against humanity committed by the Sheikh Hasina government during the quota reform and anti-discrimination movement from July to August 2024. This includes the cover page, pages 7 to 12, and the last page, totaling eight pages, in which the murder of Shaheed Abu Sayed is described.

• • A report published by Odhikar on February 10, 2025, titled “Annual Human Rights Report.” This is a report on various crimes, including torture, oppression, murder, enforced disappearances, and crimes against humanity, from January 6, 2009, to August 5, 2024. This includes the cover, introduction, table of contents, statistics on pages 1 to 10, and pages 18 to 20, for a total of 13 pages. It describes the oppression and massacre by the Sheikh Hasina government during the student-people’s movement in July and August, including the killing of Shaheed Abu Sayed.

• • Human Rights Watch’s World Report 2025: Events of 2024, a 546-page published report. This includes the cover and pages one through nine for a total of 22 pages, which describes the repressive policies of the Awami League government during the July Mass Uprising of 2024 in Bangladesh.

I have signed this seizure list as a witness. This seizure list and my signature on it are marked as exhibit 10 and 10A, respectively. The other witness, Mohammad Masud Rana, signed in my presence. I recognize his signature. This is that signature, which is marked as exhibit 10B. The six aforementioned seized items were handed over to my custody via a pen drive. This is that custody deed, and my signature on it is marked as exhibit 11 and 11A, respectively. The six aforementioned seized items are stored in a pen drive. This is that pen drive, which is marked as Material Exhibit-V.

On April 16, 2025, at 10:00 AM, in the library of the International Crimes Tribunal, in my presence, the investigating officer of this case seized a total of 75 paper cuttings from various newspapers as per the seizure list. I have signed the seizure list. This is the seizure list and my signature on it, which are marked as exhibits 12 and 12A, respectively. My assistant, Mohammad Masud Rana, signed in my presence. I recognize his signature. This is that signature, which is marked as exhibit 12B. The seized paper cuttings were handed over to my custody. This is the custody deed and my signature on it, which are marked as exhibits 13 and 13A, respectively. These items are stored with the previously exhibited Material Exhibit-V.

On June 19, 2025, at 10:25 AM, at the library of the International Crimes Tribunal, in my presence, a 15-minute and 19-second video footage was seized. It contains scenes of the student movement at Begum Rokeya University and the assault on Shaheed Abu Sayed by the police. My signature is on the seized video footage, which are marked as exhibits 16 and 16A, respectively. My colleague Ratan Das’s signature is marked as 16B. The seized video was handed over to my custody. This is the custody deed and my signature on it, which are marked as exhibits 17 and 17A, respectively. These items are stored with the previously exhibited Material Exhibit-V.

The investigating officer has interrogated me. This is my statement.

Cross-Examination by Defense Counsel Md. Aminul Ghoni Titu  On behalf of Present Accused No. 10 – Shariful Islam

Defense: Did the investigating officer interrogate you?

PW5: We had discussions, but there was no interrogation.

Defense: The concluding part of your testimony is not yours; it is a line prepared by the prosecutor.

Tribunal: This is not a leading question, nor does it amount to incriminating evidence.

Defense: Where were you working during July–August 2024?

PW5: At the Investigation Agency of the ICT.

Defense: You work as a library preservation officer here. Is there any librarian in that library?

PW5: I myself am the Librarian and Preservation Officer.

Defense: Do you have any institutional education in Library Science?

PW5: No.

Defense: Please take the seizure list in your hand. Entry No. 40(9) dated 10 April 2025 records the Martyrs’ Memorial of the July Revolution as material evidence collected by the ICT Investigation Agency. Do you know from where and under whose direction it was collected?

PW5: It was under the direction of my superior.

Defense: Be specific.

PW5: The IO and I collected such items from time to time.

Defense: Inform the Tribunal who exactly collected this.

PW5: Both of us were present at the time.

Tribunal: Who collected this?

PW5: I am unable to recall.

Defense: After cataloguing, you placed Serial No. 3 with a collection date. From where and under whose direction was the book July Graffiti collected? Does it bear the seal or signature of the Library?

PW5: No, it does not.

Defense: Do you maintain a register for the collection of evidence? From where and by whom was the book July Graffiti brought, and when?

PW5: It was seized on 1 March 2025.

Defense: I asked for the date of collection, not seizure.

PW5: I cannot remember the exact date.

Tribunal: From where?

PW5: From different places

Tribunal: What is the date?

PW5: On different dates.

Defense: There is no entry number on this book.

Defense Counsel (continuing): Who took the screenshots of the evidence at page 141, and is it mentioned in the seizure list? Do those screenshots bear the seal and signature of the Investigation Agency?

PW5: No.

Defense: In Page 146, there is the Bangladesh Gazette — does this bear the Library’s seal and signature?

Tribunal: You cannot ask this; it is a Government Gazette.

Defense: Every book must carry a number, My Lord.

Tribunal: No, you cannot ask this.

Defense: I am not objecting, only asking how it reached the library.

Prosecution (Mizanur Rahman): This repeated argument on seal/signature need not be entertained newly.

Defense: How it arrived and through whom?

PW5: I do not know. These are available online.

Tribunal: By whom did the additional Issue of Bangladesh  Gazette of 15 January 2025 reach the ICT Investigation Agency Library?

Defense: Was it collected online?

Prosecution: PW has already said he does not know. So this question will not follow.

Defense: If the online portion remains in the statement, I have the legal right to ask this question.

PW5: It was not collected online; it was collected from the Ministry of Liberation War.

Defense Counsel: Page No. 155, UN Human Rights Fact-Finding Report — does it bear the seal, signature, or date of collection?

PW5: No.

Defense: Is the source of collection mentioned in the seizure list?

Prosecution: The library has lacs of books; it is not possible to recall dates and entries for each. These questions are unnecessary.

Defense: As librarian, did you read the report?

Tribunal: It is absolutely okay even if as the librarian he did not read a single line.

Defense: Page 186, Annual Human Rights Report 2024 by ODHIKAR, publication date 10 February 2025. Does it contain a Seal, signature, entry no ?

Prosecution: There are many books in a library; it is impossible to recall each.

Tribunal: We should proceed with the activities.

Defense: Page 191, Human Rights Watch World Report 2025: Events of 2024.Does this evidence contain entry no, Seal and signature?

PW: No.

Defense: Pages 222–223. Do  newspaper cuts At serial no 28-43, publication date 17 july 2024, on the murder of Abu Sayeed contain Seal and signature?

PW5: No.

Defense: Page 223 contains news items on Abu Sayeed (Serial Nos. 52, 53, 55). Were the 6:39 min audio clip (Serial 2(a), p. 360) and the 3:20 min clip (Serial 3(a)) played to you before seizure?

PW5: Not to me, but to the IO.

Defense: When and by whom were these audio clips brought to the library?

PW5: Collected by IOs through social media.

Defense: is it mentioned from which platforms, and when these were collected?

PW5: No.

Defense: Were these clips played in your presence or in presence of another witness, Masud Rana?

PW5: I am unable to answer this question.

Defense: Does the Library collect forensic reports?

PW5: Yes.

Defense: Does your house (No. 87, Investigation Agency Building) have a storeroom?

PW5: No.

Defense: Then where are these evidences kept?

PW5: In the office.

Defense: Were the video clips in Items 6 and 8 seized without showing you?

PW5: They were shown, but I did not hear them.

Defense: Apart from Serial Nos. 1 and 2 in the Seizure List of 01/03/25, no other evidence was in your custody.

PW5: It is not true.

Defense: You have signed the seizure list at the direction of the investigating officer.

PW: This is not true.

Prosecution:  Apart from taking custody and preserving the seized articles or documents presented in this tribunal, I am not aware of their contents, nor do I have any role in looking after, writing, making, or reading them.

PW5: Not true.

Tribunal: Answer thoughtfully. Listen carefully. The prosecution explained the previous part once again, and the witness this time told them that yes, it’s true.

Adoption of Cross-Examination

Defense Counsel Mamunur Rashid on behalf of (absconding) Accused Nos. 16–22, 24 adopted the cross-examination.

Defense Counsel (for Accused No. 13) adopted the cross examination.

Defense Counsel Sujat Mia for (absconding) Accused Nos. 1, 11, 12, 14, 30  adopted the cross examination

The prosecution Mizanur Rahman  requested the tribunal to see section 10(e) and read that section 3(e) the witnesses for the prosecution shall be examined, the defence may cross-examine such witnesses and the prosecution may re-examine them and prayed for re-examination.

The defense lawyer Israth Jahan Ony, adopting the cross-examination done on behalf of accused no 10, asked two more questions.

Defense: You said that you don’t have a warehouse there, so where did you keep the seized articles?

PW: In the library locker room.

Defense: In whose presence did you store Hasina’s two audio clips?

PW: Another investigating officer, Alamgir, collected these audio clips of Hasina. And I don’t know where he collected them from.

Defense Counsel for (Absconding) Accused Nos. 15, 25, 26, 27, 28  also adopted.