Evidence given by Ali Ahsan Zunayed

My name is Ali Ahsan Zunayed, Father, XX, Mother, XX, age33 years, address Village-XXX, Post Office- XXX, Police Station XXX, District- Narayanganj.

Additionally, I am working as the Convener of a research institution named ‘United Peoples Bangladesh’ (UPBD), a new political organization formed after the July Mass Uprising.

I was studying at Dhaka University during the quota movement in 2013. At one stage of the movement, as we marched from the Dhaka University Central Library towards Shahbagh, the police fired tear gas shells at us. Chhatra League also attacked our procession. Our movement did not advance further.

In 2018, the quota reform movement restarted under the banner of the ‘General Student Rights Protection Council’. This movement spread across the country, including Dhaka University. To suppress the movement, the police and Chhatra League launched widespread attacks on the protesters. The leaders of this movement included Hasan Al Mamun, Nurul Haque Nur, and Rashed Khan, among others. Failing to suppress the movement, the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, out of anger, canceled the quota system for government jobs from the 9th grade to the 13th grade.

In 2013, quotas were fixed in government jobs: 30% for children and grandchildren of freedom fighters, 10% for women, 10% for district quota, 5% for small and ethnic minority groups, and 1% for the physically challenged. When the preliminary exam results of the 34th BCS were announced, it was seen that the cut-off mark/pass mark for general students was 72, while it was 42 for those holding quotas. Consequently, the opportunity for meritorious students to get jobs became limited. Many fake freedom fighters were created to avail this benefit. As a result, students became frustrated and angry. People from Gopalganj started receiving the most benefits from the quota.

Challenging the circular issued to cancel the quota system, Ohadul Islam Tushar and 7 others filed a writ petition in the High Court on behalf of the “Freedom Fighter’s Children Parliament”. In response to this writ, on June 5, 2024, the Honorable High Court Division reinstated the quota system by canceling the said circular. In protest, Dhaka University students started an agitation. The movement spread to all educational institutions across the country. The students gave the government an ultimatum until June 30 to reinstate the circular canceling the quota. The “Anti-Discrimination Student Movement” was formed on July 1, 2024. In the initial phase of the movement, a program of boycotting classes and examinations was announced. The “Bangla Blockade” program was announced from July 6. The Honorable Appellate Division granted a ‘Status quo’ on the High Court Division’s order on July 10.

On July 14, a memorandum was submitted to the Honorable President demanding the reinstatement of the circular. That day, at a press conference, Sheikh Hasina mocked the protesting students and said, “If the children of freedom fighters don’t get jobs, will the children of Razakars and the grandchildren of Razakars get them?”. In protest, the students of Dhaka University protested all night on campus with the slogan, “Who are you-who am I-Razakar-Razakar-Who said-Who said-Autocrat-Autocrat”.

On July 15, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said, “Chhatra League is enough to suppress the protesting students”. That day, the President of the Dhaka University Chhatra League, Mazharul Islam Shayan, said, “If the Chhatra League blows on them, the protesters will fly away in 5 minutes”. That day, the central president of the Chhatra League, Saddam, said, “Movements will come, movements will go, but Chhatra League will remain, and everything will be remembered”. Following this, the Chhatra League brutally launched an armed attack on the protesting students of Dhaka University The injured students were prevented from going to the hospital, and an attack was launched on the injured students receiving treatment in the hospital under the leadership of the General Secretary of the University branch of Chhatra League, Shoikot.

In protest, a demonstration program was called across the country on July 16. The students gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar. Meanwhile, news was received that a total of 6 people, including Abu Sayeed in Rangpur, Wasim, Shanto, and Faruq in Chattogram, were martyred. On this day, educational institutions across the country were declared closed, and someone was tasked with taking charge under the Banyan tree.

On July 17, funeral prayers in absentia (gayebana janaza) and coffin processions were organized across the country, including Dhaka University, in protest of the previous day’s events. Before the funeral prayer in absentia, former Social Welfare Secretary of DUCSU Akhter Hossain was arrested from in front of the Raju Sculpture, and the police and Chhatra League attacked the coffin procession as well.

On that day (July 14), educational institutions across the country were declared closed, and students of Dhaka University were instructed to vacate the halls by 6:00 PM the next day.

On July 18, the police shot and killed and injured many protesting students and public. Additionally, ambulances carrying the injured were shot at. Internet service was shut down that night.

On July 19, I was protesting in the Chittagong Road area under Siddhirganj, Narayanganj. In the morning, army personnel arrived there with a convoy of vehicles. Around 4:00 PM, when the police fired at the protesters in front of a hospital, 2 people were killed there. Several people were injured. The protesters then became agitated and started marching. In front of Bhumi Palli on Chittagong Road, presumably, the BGB helicopter fired upon the procession. RAB, police, and BGB members also fired from the front. 20/25 people were killed and injured by gunfire there. We dispersed and moved to a safe shelter. The firing continued there for 3 consecutive hours. That night, the police and Chhatra League searched for protesters by going house to house. Curfew was imposed from that night.

On the morning of July 20, we protesters (breaking the curfew) came out onto the streets again and continued the movement. The 9-point program of the movement was finalized and sent to various media via a pen drive. The government side contacted the protesters to stop the movement and said that since an order regarding quota reform was expected in the Appellate Division on July 21, the students were asked to stop the movement.

When the 9-point program was announced on July 21, it demanded an unconditional apology from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, acknowledging responsibility for the genocide. The resignation of two ministers, including the Home Minister, was demanded. During the movement, more than a hundred people were killed and several hundred were injured in the Jatrabari to Chittagong Road area. During this time, about 134 bodies were buried as unidentified in the Rayer Bazar graveyard.

First, Nahid Islam was disappeared and was released on July 21. Subsequently, he and a total of 6 coordinators were again taken into DB custody. Mass arrests continued during this period. Approximately 200,000 people were made accused in over 200 cases.

When the government declared July 30 as a day of mourning, we protesters rejected it. The protesters rejected the government-declared mourning program by covering their eyes and faces with red cloth, adopted a protest program, and called for turning Facebook profiles red. The campaign to turn Facebook profiles red gained widespread response, and the Facebook profiles of important personalities, including Dr. Muhammad Yunus, turned red.

On July 31, the “March for Justice” program was observed towards the court in protest of the mass arrests. The police obstructed this program. On this day, many, including Dhaka University teacher Shahrin Amin Monami, were injured. The “Remembering Our Heroes” program was observed on August 1. Simultaneously, we decided to count August 1 as July 32. Subsequently, up to August 5 was counted as July 36.

On August 3, Nahid Islam announced the 1-point program for the fall of the government from the Central Shaheed Minar. I and many others were present there.

On August 4, we continued the movement in the Jatrabari area. That day, the police, Chhatra League, Jubo League, and Awami League collectively launched an armed attack on the protesters. That day, many were killed and injured by gunfire. That day, the “March to Dhaka” program was first announced for August 6. I talked to the coordinators Asif and Sadik Quayem and suggested bringing the program forward. On the night of August 4, coordinator Asif announced the “March to Dhaka” program to be moved up one day to August 5.

At 9:00 AM on August 5, I left home and set out towards Jatrabari to join the movement. 7/8 other people were with me. Many protesters gathered in front of Saddam Market. I also joined them. From there, we proceeded in a procession and took a position in front of the Kajla footover bridge and continued the movement. The protesters were targeted and shot with sniper rifles. I saw about 15 people with bullet wounds in the head being taken to Anabil Hospital for treatment. We learned that the Army Chief would address the nation at 2:00 PM. Then we protesters realized that Sheikh Hasina had probably been ousted from power. I requested the protesters over a handheld mic not to leave the field. I requested them to remain vigilant so that military rule could not come to the country. Around 3:00 PM in the afternoon, the Army Chief announced that Sheikh Hasina had resigned. The police continued to fire at the protesters from around the Jatrabari Police Station until 6:00 PM that evening.

I demand the trial of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, including members of Awami League, Jubo League, Chhatra League, Police, and other law enforcement agencies who were involved in this killing.

Subsequently, I learned through social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and other media that Sheikh Hasina instructed the use of lethal weapons and firing at the protesters during separate telephone conversations with former Dhaka University VC Maksudur Kamal, Hasanul Haq Inu, and Fazle Noor Tapas.

The Investigating Officer has questioned me.

This is my deposition.

Cross Examination
The state appointed defence lawyer, Amir Hossain, requested for time. The prosecution said that he should do a few questions at least

The goal and objective of UP Bangladesh is to establish democracy in Bangladesh by realizing the aspirations of the July Mass Uprising.
I passed my Master’s degree in Women and Gender Studies from Dhaka University in 2016.

Amir Hossain asks for some time again.