Evidence given by Md. Ashraful Islam

I joined the police on 11-01-1994. Since 13 July 2002, I have been serving in DMP Dhaka and continue to do so to this day. In 2018, I was promoted to Sub-Inspector (Armed). My BP No. is 7694013096.

During the anti-discrimination movement, on 05-08-2024, along with ASI Murad, Nayek Jasim, Constable Mahmudul, Constable Mehedi, Constable Nasirul, Constable Mahbub, and one platoon (20 members) under my command, and another platoon (20 members) under SI Helal with his force, altogether two platoons—40 officers and force members—equipped with our respective issued arms, ammunition, bulletproof jackets, and other equipment, left POM Police Lines, Mirpur, at 4:00 a.m. under CC No. 0538, and reached Shahbagh Police Station shortly after 6:00 a.m. for urgent law-and-order duty.

Upon arrival at Shahbagh Police Station, I came to know that at around 5:00 a.m., DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman Sir, and at around 6:00 a.m., Joint Commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, had arrived at Shahbagh Police Station, given instructions including firing upon protestors to suppress the movement that day, and then departed. That day the protestors had declared the program “March to Dhaka.”

At around 9:00 a.m., the two platoons under us, along with one platoon of police from DMP, one platoon from 13-APBN, and one platoon of female police from Rajarbagh—altogether five platoons (100 personnel)—were briefed regarding law-and-order duty by then ADC Shah Alam Mohammad Akhtarul Islam Sir, in the presence of then AC Imrul Sir of Ramna Zone, and Shahbagh Police Inspector (Unarmed) Md. Arshad Hossain Sir.

After briefing, excluding the female police and two DMP platoons, around 60–65 police members, under the leadership of ADC Akhtarul Sir, AC Imrul Sir, and Inspector Md. Arshad Hossain, went to Central Shaheed Minar, Dhaka, for duty. Upon reaching there, AC Imrul Sir and others threw several sound grenades, causing the protestors to scatter. At that time, under instructions from ADC Akhtarul Sir, several protestors were arrested and sent to Shahbagh Police Station in a prison van.

By order of ADC Akhtarul Sir, AC Imrul Sir, Inspector Arshad Sir, about 15–20 members of APBN, 10–15 members of DMP, along with myself and my fellow constables Piyash, Asif, Akash, Nasirul, proceeded on foot and reached Chankharpul around 10:30/11:00 a.m.

When students and people coming from the Bangshal and Chawk Bazar areas tried to proceed towards Shahbagh as part of the “March to Dhaka” program, ADC Akhtarul Islam Sir ordered that without necessity, sound grenades, gas guns, and shotguns be fired at the protestors. This firing occurred at the Chankharpul intersection. APBN police were made to fire shotguns to disperse the crowd. At that time, ADC Akhtarul Sir said: “Those of you who have pistols and Chinese rifles, fire at the protestors and kill them.”

When I and several others refrained from following this unnecessary and unlawful order, Sir verbally abused us with obscene language. He threatened us saying: “Do you not take government salary and rations? Why won’t you shoot? I will have your jobs terminated.” Nevertheless, I refrained from firing my pistol.

After that, Constable Md. Nasirul Islam, using extra ammunition supplied by ADC Akhtarul Sir, repeatedly loaded his Chinese rifle while sitting on the road and kept firing at the protestors, following the instructions and demonstrations of the Sir.

At that time, ADC Akhtarul Islam Sir snatched away a Chinese rifle from the hand of one APBN constable (who was refraining from firing) and handed it to APBN Constable Sujon Hossain. Later, I came to know that the constable who refrained from firing was named Ajay. After this, Constable Sujon Hossain, sometimes standing, sometimes lying down, and sometimes kneeling at the Chankharpul intersection, fired at the protestors with the Chinese rifle.

In addition, APBN Constable Imraj Hossain Imon fired at the protestors with the Chinese rifle issued in his name. I witnessed several protestors being shot and falling on the road due to this gunfire, after which other protestors carried them away.

Subsequently, AC Imrul Sir, Inspector Arshad Sir, and 5–7 APBN members entered various alleys of Nazimuddin Road while firing, and we could hear the sound of Chinese rifle shots.

Then, upon hearing that Sheikh Hasina had fled, at around 2:30 p.m., the situation in Chankharpul went out of the control of the police. At that point, by order of ADC Akhtarul Sir, we returned via TSC intersection, through Suhrawardy Udyan, and re-entered Shahbagh Police Station from the rear. By his order, we deposited our issued arms into the Shahbagh Police Station armory.

My fellow constable, Nasirul Islam, deposited 40 rounds of ammunition along with his issued Chinese rifle. I asked him: “How did you submit 40 rounds even after firing the Chinese rifle at Chankharpul?” He replied that ADC Akhtarul Sir had supplied him with extra ammunition.

After that, I changed into civilian dress, and after Asr prayers, exited from the back of Shahbagh Police Station, mingled with the protestors on foot, and returned to Mirpur Police Lines at around 11:00 p.m.

Cross-examination on behalf of fugitive accused Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal (by learned State Defense)

It is not true that I spoke falsely stating that upon reaching there (Shaheed Minar), when AC Imrul Sir along with a few others threw a few sound grenades, the protesters became dispersed.

It is not true that I spoke falsely stating that when the student-masses coming from the Bongshal and Chawkbazar areas adjacent to Chankharpul wanted to go towards Shahbagh in the ‘March to Dhaka’ program, upon the instruction of ADC Akhtarul Islam Sir, without any necessity, shooting was conducted targeting the student-masses using sound grenades, gas guns, and shotguns.

It is not true that I spoke falsely stating that at that time ADC Akhtarul Sir said, “Those of you who have pistols and Chinese rifles, fire at the protesters and kill them.” When I along with a few others did not follow this unnecessary and illegal order of Sir, Sir kept abusing us in unspeakable language. He threatened us saying, “Don’t you eat the government’s salary and rations? Why won’t you shoot? I will take your jobs.”

It is not true that [I said] accompanying Constable Md. Nasirul Islam used the extra bullets supplied by ADC Akhtarul Sir and, upon Sir’s order and as shown [by him], sat on the road and loaded bullets into the Chinese rifle and kept firing repeatedly targeting the protesters. At this time, ADC Akhtarul Islam Sir snatched a Chinese rifle from the hand of a constable of APBn police and gave it to the hand of APBn constable Sujan Hossain. The person from whose hand the Chinese rifle was snatched refrained from shooting. I later learned his name is Ajoy. Thereafter, Constable Sujan Hossain, sometimes standing, sometimes lying down, sometimes kneeling at Chankharpul intersection, kept shooting with the Chinese rifle targeting the protesters. Furthermore, APBn Constable Imaz Hossain Emon fired targeting the protesters with the Chinese rifle issued in his name; [it is not true that] I spoke falsely regarding these matters.

It is not true that I spoke falsely stating that I could see that due to such shooting, several protesters were shot and when they fell on the road, other protesters were holding and taking them away; thereafter, when AC Imrul Sir and Inspector Arshad Sir along with 5/7 members of APBn entered various lanes of Nazimuddin Road while shooting, we could hear the sound of Chinese rifle bullets.

It is not true that on that day, the law enforcement forces only did as much as was necessary for self-defense or did not use any bullets or firearms.

It is not true that ADC Akhtarul Sir did not give extra bullets to Nasirul for use.

It is not true that I gave false testimony.

Previously missing cross examination added on 28 December 2025