Witness Testimony of AKM Moinul Haque

My name is AKM Moinul Haque. I am 58 years old. My father’s name is AKM Enamul Haque, and my mother’s name is Mahmura Begum. I am a Muslim. I reside in the village of Jummapara in Rangpur district. By profession, I am a journalist. I work as a Senior Correspondent for the international television channel NTV in Rangpur.

On July 16, 2024, just before 2:00 PM, my colleague (video journalist Asaduzzaman Arman) and I were performing our professional duties near the park intersection, in front of Gate No. 1 of Rangpur Rokeya University. As part of the anti-discrimination student movement, a procession started from the Rangpur Press Club area and reached our location.

When the procession arrived in front of Begum Rokeya University’s Gate No. 1, it was obstructed by police, Chhatra League members, and government party supporters who were already there. I also saw some university officials near the police. The protesters attempted to hold a rally in front of Gate No. 1 and enter the university premises. At this time, the police and the others present blocked the protesters. At one point, the police started a baton charge. To protect themselves, the protesters tried to escape the baton charge while chanting slogans.

The police then began firing with tear gas and shotguns. It was past 2:00 PM, and NTV’s 2:00 PM news bulletin had already started. My colleague and I began collecting video footage of the terrible situation and sending it directly to NTV. After seeing the video, the NTV authorities instructed me to go live.

At approximately 2:13 PM, my colleague Asaduzzaman and I connected to NTV’s live broadcast and presented the overall situation at the scene to the public. At approximately 2:17 PM, in front of Gate No. 1, a young man wearing a black T-shirt and black pants stood by a small barbed wire fence on the road divider. He stood there with both arms outstretched. Then, someone among the police, who had already been firing, shot at this young man.

Our live broadcast was still ongoing. The bullet hit the young man in the front—specifically in his chest and stomach. After being shot, he stumbled a few steps back and fell to a sitting position. Although he tried to stand up, he lost his balance and fell to the ground. Afterward, a few of his associates carried him away toward the park intersection. The scene of the young man being carried away was broadcast live on NTV for as long as it was visible on camera.

During this time, the police firing and the moment the young man was shot were also visible on NTV’s live broadcast. At that time, NTV was the only channel broadcasting the event live.

We later learned that the young man who was shot had been taken to Rangpur Medical College Hospital. He was a 12th-batch student of the English Department at Begum Rokeya University, and his name was Abu Sayeed. Around 3:30 PM, we found out that he had passed away.

A copy of the footage I recorded was seized by the PBI (Police Bureau of Investigation). I had provided the video for broadcast on NTV, and I also have a copy of that live broadcast. If a pen drive containing this raw footage and the NTV live broadcast video is presented to the honorable tribunal, I will not object. The investigating officer has interrogated me. This is my testimony.

Cross-Examination by Defense Lawyer Md. Amir Hossain

Q: Is there any difference between the statement you gave to the investigating officer and the testimony you’ve provided in the tribunal today?

A: It is not true that there is any difference between the statement I gave to the investigating officer and the testimony I have given to the tribunal today. There might be slight changes; however there is no difference in the core information.

Q: Do you know if the investigating officers asked any questions to your colleague, Asaduzzaman?

A: I do not know if the investigating officers asked my colleague, Asaduzzaman, any questions.

Q: Did you see the bullet hit the victim with your own eyes?

A: I saw him get shot in the stomach with my own eyes.

Q: Is it possible that the videos you submitted were created using Artificial Intelligence?

A: The two videos I have submitted were not created using Artificial Intelligence.