Testimony of Dr. Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman

My name is Dr. Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman. I am an Associate Professor in the Neurotrauma Department at the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital.

On 16 July 2024, after learning about the killing of Abu Saeed, I advised Mr. Nirakar to set up an emergency unit. From 18 July onward, gunshot patients started arriving. The patients had gunshot wounds on their heads, hands, feet, backs, and necks. The bullets were of both bullet and pellet types, and were large in size. Most of the patients who arrived on 4 and 5 August had gunshot wounds on their heads, chests, and necks. Many of them had their skulls shattered.

A total of 575 patients with gunshot wounds were treated in the hospital and discharged after primary treatment.

167 patients with serious injuries were admitted, most of whom had their skulls damaged. Among them, four were brought dead, and 29 others died while under treatment. Seven patients were sent abroad for advanced treatment.

On 19 July, personnel from the DB (Detective Branch) came and pressured me not to admit the gunshot students, telling me “Do not be overly enthusiastic. Do not release those you have admitted. Orders from above exist. Legal action will be taken against them.”

At that time, we strategically altered the patients’ records in the admission register, recording the gunshot injuries as road accidents. The ages of the injured patients ranged from 13 to 30 years.

The investigating officer seized some pellets and two bullets as per the seizure list. I performed approximately 33 operations and removed many bullets from the bodies of injured protesters. Many bullets and pellets were taken away by the patients themselves. This is the seizure list (Exhibit-4) with my signature (Exhibit 4/1). This is the bullet (Exhibit-VIII).

Several patients whose skulls were shattered were recorded in extreme pain in the ICU by Ekattor TV. These videos are in the combined video pen drive (Exhibit-IX), which was shown in the Tribunal.

The principal masterminds of the above crimes are Sheikh Hasina, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Obaidul Quader, and former Information Minister Arafat. I demand their execution.

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

Cross examination 

In the medical team I described, there were 13–14 doctors. Our director was Professor Kazi Din Mohammad. We had assumed that injured patients might arrive because the situation was volatile at that time. Based on this assumption, we formed the medical team.

It is not true that we were involved in the movement to destabilize the country or to bring about the government’s fall.

It is not true that I did not tell the Investigating Officer that most of the 167 seriously injured patients admitted to the hospital had no skulls. However, I did inform the Investigating Officer about 163 patients.

I do not recall whether I told the Investigating Officer that 29 injured patients died while under treatment in the hospital.

The related register is in the hospital, and I can submit it to the Tribunal if requested. Under my supervision, I performed operations on these patients and removed 15–16 bullets.

It is true that I did not inform the Investigating Officer about the videos.

It is not true that I displayed these videos to achieve any illegal objective.

I cannot currently provide the names of the patients who took bullets or pellets.

It is not true that I have given false testimony.