Testimony of Abdullah Al Imran

My name is Abdullah Al Imran. My father’s name is Md. Arif Sarkar and my mother’s name is Mirza Habiba Akhtar. My village is XXX, Union:  XXX: Brahmanbaria. Last year, I was a final-year undergraduate student, and I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Philosophy at Dhaka College.

From the beginning of July last year, I became actively involved in the logical and justified anti-quota movement. On July 19, 2024, while I was at Bijoynagar near Panir Tangki Area , participating in the protest, the police suddenly opened fire on us without warning. I was shot in my left leg, below the knee. Two of my fellow protestors were also shot and died on the spot.

After I collapsed from my injury, some fellow protestors — whom I did not personally know — attempted to take me to different hospitals. However, most private hospitals refused to treat me. Eventually, they brought me to Mitford Hospital.

At Mitford Hospital, the attending doctors informed me that my leg would need to be amputated. I myself was in favor of the amputation, as there was no flesh left from the knee to the ankle — the skin was just hanging. However, my well-wishers refused to give their consent. The doctors then advised that I be transferred to NITOR (Pangu Hospital).

While I was being transported in an ambulance, the vehicle was stopped in front of the then Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal’s residence in Dhanmondi by joint security forces. They detained us for over an hour. From the way they behaved, it seemed like they intended to shoot us. Along with me were a friend and two blood donors. My friend “Pakhi” was arrested at that time and was released from jail in August 2024.

That night, July 19, a curfew was in effect. We reached Mitford Hospital around 11 PM, and I underwent an initial surgery that very night. The doctors there suspected that the nerves in my leg might still be functioning and referred me to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) for testing. After a nerve test, they confirmed that my leg was still alive. I was then sent to NITOR, where I underwent another surgery that same night.

I remained under treatment at the hospital until July 26 or 27, 2024. The then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came to visit us at NITOR. In preparation for her visit, the hospital was thoroughly cleaned the night before — walls were painted, fans were cleaned, and various arrangements were made — because of which we could not sleep the whole night. She arrived around 9 or 10 in the morning.

When she spoke to me, I addressed her as “Madam.” She asked me to call her “Apa” (sister). She inquired about my education, whether I stayed in a dormitory, and if not, why. She realized at that point that we were involved in the quota movement. She asked if I had seen the police shoot me. I replied that the police had indeed shot me directly, but I could not identify exactly who, as they were wearing police uniforms.

She spoke to four or five other injured persons after me. Before leaving, she went to the health desk and gave the directive “No Release, No Treatment.” I overheard this but did not understand its meaning at the time. Later, I realized that my treatment was being deliberately hindered. I was supposed to be taken to the operating theatre at 8 AM daily, but the surgery would often not take place until 2 or 3 PM. As a result, I would not be allowed to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before.

At that time, my leg began to emit a strong stench due to severe infection. The staff in the operating room could not tolerate the odor. Every part of my leg’s muscle had gunpowder embedded in it. The antibiotics provided by the government hospital were not working on my body. A sample of pus was taken from my leg and sent to ICDDRB for testing. They reported that I needed high-quality antibiotics. However, the hospital did not allow medication to be brought from outside.

When we realized this, my father tried to get me discharged to seek treatment elsewhere, but the hospital refused to release me. That is when I fully understood what “No Release, No Treatment” meant — they would neither treat me properly nor allow me to seek treatment elsewhere. At one point, they even planned to amputate my leg and send me to jail.

Due to the lack of proper treatment, the infection in my leg worsened. As of now, I have undergone 25 surgeries. I remained hospitalized for nearly 11 months. The bullet that hit me came from a rifle. One of the two bones in my leg was completely destroyed — around six inches of bone was lost from my thicker bone. After August 5, I was moved from the general ward to a private cabin.

Although some treatment is still ongoing, my leg has not yet regained normal movement.

I hold the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the then Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and the Chief of Police responsible for my current condition.¹

The reason I hold them responsible is that the then Prime Minister was also in charge of the Ministry of Defense. I saw in a video that she instructed various forces to open fire. She incited them by referring to us as “descendants of Razakars.” I also saw in a video that a uniformed officer was telling the then Home Minister: “Sir, I shoot them. One dies, the rest stay in place.”

I could not recognize those who shot me as they were in police uniforms. Since they were police personnel, I hold the Chief of Police accountable.

At this point, the witness showed the court the current condition of his gunshot-injured leg.

The investigating officer has questioned me in connection with this matter. The account I have given today in court is consistent with the one I gave to the investigating officer.

This concludes my testimony.

Cross-examination by the Defense Counsel Mr. Md. Amir Hossain:

Q1: Is it true that there was also an anti-quota movement in 2018, before the one in 2024?

A1: Yes, it is true that before 2024, an anti-quota movement took place in 2018. In response to the 2018 movement, the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina abolished the quota system in government jobs.

Q2: Are you aware that a person later challenged the order abolishing the quota system in the Hon’ble High Court?

A2: Yes, I am aware that someone later filed a case in the Hon’ble High Court challenging the abolition order.

Q3: Do you know whether the government appealed that High Court judgment in the Supreme Court?

A3: I do not know whether the government filed any appeal in the Supreme Court against the High Court’s judgment.

Q4: Is it not true that you participated in the movement without understanding its purpose, or that the movement was unjustified?

A4: That is not true. The history is not that we were unaware of the movement’s purpose or that it was unjustified.

Q5: Who among your well-wishers advised you not to self-harm during the protest?

A5: Among my well-wishers were my immediate seniors from college—Rifat Hossain and Ataur Rahman. They were the ones who advised me not to harm my legs.

Q6: Who were with you when the joint forces detained you?

A6: When the joint forces detained us, the two friends who were with me were Rifat Hossain and Ataur Rahman. I do not know the names of the other two blood donors, but my friends might know.

Q7: Do you know whether the investigating officer made your two friends witnesses in the case?

A7: I do not know whether the investigating officer has made those two friends witnesses in this case.

Q8: Is it not true that the accused had no ill intention while preparing the hospital—cleaning, painting the walls, etc.—before the former Prime Minister’s visit?

A8: That is not true. It is not true that the accused had no ill motive behind the cleaning, painting, and preparations ahead of the former Prime Minister’s visit.

Q9: Is it not true that the former Prime Minister did not say “No Release, No Treatment”?

A9: That is not true. It is not true that the former Prime Minister did not say “No Release, No Treatment.”

Q10: Do you know the names of others who spoke with the former Prime Minister after you?

A10: I do not know the names of the 4–5 individuals who spoke with the former Prime Minister after me.

Q11: Do you know who the people were who were present when she said “No Release, No Treatment” at the health desk?

A11: Yes, when she said “No Release, No Treatment” at the health desk, many officers, employees, and others were present.

Q12: Is it not true that the accused are not responsible for your tragic condition?

A12: That is not true. It is not true that the accused are not responsible for my tragic condition.

Q13: Are you an expert in firearms or ammunition?

A13: I am not an expert in firearms or ammunition. However, based on my description, the weapons experts stated that it was a bullet from a Chinese rifle.

Q14: Did you meet with a weapons expert while in the hospital?

A14: Yes, I met with a weapons expert during my stay at the hospital.

Q15: Do you have medical documents regarding your treatment?

A15: Yes, I have various medical documents from different hospitals related to my treatment. If the Hon’ble Court desires, I can submit them.

Q16: Are you affiliated with any student political organization?

A16: Yes, I am affiliated with a student organization, and I believe in an ideology different from that of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.

Q17: Is it not true that you are testifying falsely in court because of ideological differences?

A17: That is not true. It is not true that I am giving false testimony against the accused in court due to ideological differences.

Q18: Is it not true that the accused did not commit the crimes you have described in your statement?

A18: That is not true. It is not true that the accused did not commit the offenses I have described in my statement.

Q19: Is it not true that your testimony is false?

A19: That is not true. It is not true that I am giving false testimony.

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During the witness examination in chief, the defense lawyer objects, stating that the prosecution is asking leading questions because they asked the witness who he blames for his condition, and leading questions are not allowed in the examination in chief. Then the prosecution counsel rebuts, stating that a leading question means a question that can be answered with a yes/no. Here, they are not asking any leading questions.