Heard Hasina ordering 'no release, no treatment': Witness tells ICT

Banglapress Published: 23 September 2025, 10:25 AM

Heard Hasina ordering 'no release, no treatment': Witness tells ICT

Bangla Press Desk: A new witness in the crimes against humanity case against Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 on Monday said he heard then prime minister ordering hospital authorities not to release any patients, who got injured while taking part in the anti-discrimination movement, and not to provide them any treatment. "...I was taken from the Mitford Hospital to National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), after getting shot by police in the Bijoynagar area on 19 July. Then prime minister Sheikh Hasina came to the hospital on 26 or 27 July. She talked with me and realised I was an anti-discrimination activist. After that, she talked to four or five more patients at the hospital. As she was going out, I heard she was ordering the people at the hospital help desk, 'no release, no treatment'," said second prosecution witness (PW) Abdullah Al Imran. The witness, who lost his left leg in the police firing, said he was shot below his left knee in the Bijoynagar Water Tank area around 3pm on 19 July 2024, adding that two other protesters were killed on the spot. "At first, I was taken to different private hospitals, but they refused to provide me with any treatment. Later, I was taken to Mitford (Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital). There, doctors wanted to amputate my leg. Even though I agreed to do so, my well-wishers were reluctant and I was shifted to NITOR," he added.

Imran said that after Sheikh Hasina's instruction, the hospital authorities were not providing them with proper treatment, and his leg started to rot. "Foul smell was coming from my wounds, making people stay away from me. The antibiotic given by the hospital was not working on me, and the authorities were not allowing me to collect medicine from outside. My father at the time wanted to take me away for better treatment, but they were not giving me a release. I realised it was the result of Sheikh Hasina's instruction for no release and no treatment," Imran testified. The witness said the scenario changed drastically after 5 August as he was shifted from a general bed to a cabin, where he got proper treatment. "So far, there have been 25 surgeries on my leg. But I cannot move my leg and it will not work anymore," the witness further said.

He accused Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, and former inspector general of police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun of his ordeal and demanded justice. After his testimony, Advocate Amir Hossain, state-appointed counsel for Hasina and Asaduzzaman, cross-examined him. The first tribunal on 10 July indicted the trio for their role in crimes against humanity committed during the July-August mass uprising. The ICT-1 on 17 June published a notice in two national dailies, asking Hasina and Asaduzzaman to surrender on 24 June.

"...as per rules 31 of the International Crimes (Tribunal-1) Rules of Procedure 2010 (Amendment), 2025, they are hereby ordered to surrender at this tribunal on 24 June 2025. Otherwise, trial will be held in their absence as per section 10A of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973," the notice said. As the two accused opted not to appear before the court in spite of its notice, the tribunal on 24 June set the next date for holding a hearing on charge framing. The tribunal on 16 June ordered the authorities concerned to publish notices on two national dailies, one in Bangla and another in English, asking the two fugitive convicts to give up before the court. Earlier, the ICT-1 on 1 June took cognizance of the formal charge filed by the prosecution in the case, and set 16 June for passing further orders in this connection. In line with that order, Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam on 16 June said, of the three accused, Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan are yet to be arrested and police learned from different sources that they are in India right now.

The prosecution in the formal charge brought five charges against Hasina, Asaduzzaman, and Mamun. The investigation agency of the ICT on 12 May filed its probe report in the crimes against humanity and mass killing case. This article was originally published on Daily Sun. [Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.] B P/S

[Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.]