Dhaka, Oct 8 (V7N) – During the ongoing tribunal proceedings regarding the July 2024 uprising, Amir Hossain, the state-appointed lawyer of the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, claimed that no war occurred in 2024 and described the July movement as part of a long-standing illegal plan and conspiracy. Investigation Officer Md. Alamgir, however, rejected these assertions as false during the questioning on Tuesday.

The 54th witness of the case, Officer Alamgir, was examined for the third consecutive day at Tribunal-1, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, and the session will continue on Wednesday. Amir Hossain addressed Officer Alamgir, alleging that members of the Interim Government’s advisory council forced Sheikh Hasina to leave the country unjustly. Officer Alamgir denied the claim.

Amir Hossain further stated that no acts of war or crimes against humanity occurred during July–August, and that the uprising was part of a premeditated illegal plan. Officer Alamgir countered these statements, declaring them untrue. The lawyer also claimed that he had fabricated information about the suspension of internet services during the movement, which Alamgir confirmed was false.

The lawyer additionally questioned whether investigations were conducted regarding police killings in Sirajganj, Ashulia, and Jatrabari. Officer Alamgir responded that such matters were not within his investigation. Tribunal members then instructed the defense lawyer to file cases concerning these incidents, as no action had been taken yet.

Constable Rashed’s Testimony

In a separate proceeding at Tribunal-2, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, Constable Rashedul Islam provided testimony regarding the burning of six bodies during the July uprising in Ashulia. As the 12th witness, Rashedul described how, on August 5 last year, while serving as a driver constable at Ashulia Police Station, he observed a pile of corpses on a van near the station’s left-side road around 4 p.m.

Rashedul stated that former Ashulia OIC Sayed instructed him to cover the bodies with a banner, which he did. Several officers, including Inspectors Masudur Rahman and Nirmal Kumar Das, ASI Bishwajit, Constable Mukul Chokdar, and DB Inspector Arafat, were present. He further recounted covering the bodies with a traditional Punjabi outfit and cap from a nearby building before learning that the bodies were later transported in a police van and burned.

The testimony adds further detail to the ongoing investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings during the July 2024 uprising and highlights discrepancies between defense claims and official findings.

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