Testimony of Mohammad Saidur Rahman

My name is Md. Saidur Rahman. My age is approximately 63. I am a businessman. I am the maternal grandfather of Shaheed Shahriar Khan Anas. Anas was a tenth-grade student. He was very good at his studies. His aspiration was to become an engineer. However, the actions of the then-government extinguished the light of his life.

On August 5, 2024, around 9 AM, we woke up and did not find Anas at home. We searched for him. His mother found three letters on his study table. The letters were written in Anas’s handwriting. (At this point, the witness broke down in tears). After reading those letters, we learned that he had gone to the movement. Anas had a small button phone without a SIM. Four numbers were saved on that mobile phone, which were family members’ numbers. At 1:30 PM, Anas’s mother received a call inquiring if anyone from the family had gone to the movement. Anas’s mother then said, “My son has gone to the movement.” The caller then asked them to go to Salimullah Medical College Hospital. My daughter and I then went to that hospital. There, we found Anas lying on a stretcher, bleeding. The hospital authorities told us to take the body quickly, without conducting a post-mortem examination. We then brought Anas’s body home by rickshaw. After the Janaza (funeral prayer), Anas’s body was buried in Jurain graveyard.

Later, I learned that my grandson was shot below Chankhar Pul in Nawab Katara. I learned that on that day, Anas and six others were martyred by gunfire at that location. The police force of the then-government carried out the shooting. In this incident, I demand the death penalty for Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, and all those who fired the shots because they gave the orders. We learned from various media outlets that Sheikh Hasina had given instructions to stay in power.

The investigating officer questioned me. This is my statement.

Cross-examination

It is not true that I falsely stated that the police fired the shots.

It is not true that Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal did not give the orders.

It is not true that, that I did not learn from the media that Sheikh Hasina gave the orders to stay in power.

It is true that the hospital did not conduct a post-mortem and ordered the body to be taken from the hospital.

It is not true that Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal are innocent.

It is not true that today I gave false testimony in the Tribunal.